Americans Help Make Homes for Hiroshimans

[Photo caption]: MR. and MRS. GORDON HIRABAYASHI, son JAY and twins. They examined century-old scroll, grateful Hiroshima's gift

Two Seattle men are back from a summer's work helping to rebuild the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima.

Floyd W. Schmoe, 13434 40th Ave. N.E., a Quaker, whose daughter married a Nisei, and the Rev. Emery Andrews, associate pastor of the Japanese Baptist Church here, were among American and Japanese volunteers who built four houses for Hiroshima's homeless. It was the two men's idea, and they received Emperor Hirohito's written thanks.

Schmoe and Mr. Andrews were accompanied to Japan by two American women, Miss Daisy Tibbs, a University of Washington graduate who is teaching at Harbison College, South Carolina, and Miss Ruth Jenkins, a teacher from Arizona, who stayed in Japan to teach school.

Miss Tibbs is a Presbyterian and Miss Jenkins, a Methodist.

Aided by Students

Aided by Japanese students who donated their efforts, the Americans mixed concrete, nailed boards in place, installed wiring and plumbing and did other work under the direction of one trained carpenter.

"Just to say you regret something isn't much." Schmoe said yesterday. "But to do something about it -- that is different. We paid our own expenses and donated some money. We are going back next summer. Nearly 3,000,000 people are homeless there."

Hull said, "I didn't want any labels, laundry marks or other things around that could be used to trace me. I got rid of my watch and gave my shoes to a fellow. I disposed of everything that had numbers or labels."

Hull insists that his story is not interesting -- that it is just one of years of working long hours, leading a drab life and accumulating a nickel here and a dollar there until he was ready to come back.

"Why, I've never paid more than $50 a month rent for instance," Hull said. "You see, there's no news in what I've been doing. How could such a drab existence be of interest to anyone?"

Nevertheless, Prosecutor Charles O. Carroll still wants to know about Hull's activities.

Nearly 4,000 persons applied to live in the four houses. The lucky persons included a newspaperman, a student and his wife, and two school superintendents.

The family units included two main rooms, a kitchen, and toilet facilities. A community bath was built.

Gifts From Japanese

When the men returned they brought with them gifts "in sincere appreciation" from Hiroshima city officials, civic organizations and private citizens. Among them were vases made from clay taken from the bombed city and a scroll which was painted more than 100 years ago by Asano, Lord of Hiroshima.

Schmoe visited Mrs. So Matsuoka, paternal great-great grandmother of Schmoe's grandchildren. Schmoe's daughter, Esther, was married in 1944 to Gordon Hirabayashi, a Nisei.

During the war Hirabayashi challenged the evacuation order which forced people of Japanese ancestry to move away from the West Coast. He was sentenced to jail, and while he was there, four years ago, his twin daughters, Mitsi and Mari, were born.

The Hirabayashis also have a son, Jay, 2 1/2 years old. The father is a University of Washington sociology instructor.

The house-building venture began last Christmas, when Schmoe and Mr. Andrews sent 2,000 letters telling of their plans. Hundreds of persons and organizations responded, and the money still is coming in.

"There is no sponsoring organization," said Schmoe. "The effort represents all races and regions -- humanitarians in action."