Evacuee Writes Japanese Like Puyallup 'Home'

Japanese who have been evacuated from Seattle and now are settled at the assembly center in Puyallup are surprisingly pleased with their new "home," according to a letter received yesterday from Edward K. Shimomura, a pharmacist formerly employed here.

Shimomura wrote:

"I'm not the least bit worried now after witnessing how courteously and splendidly the Army has equipped us in these cabins with all the facilities to make it comfortable, the special food that they give the children and the balanced meals which we receive. In more ways than one we are thankful."

The pharmacist said that his sojourn so far "certainly seems like a vacation to me to be away from my work at the drug store and to be taking it so easy."

Shimomura indicated, however, that he soon would be busy. He has been assigned to the hospital staff. He continued:

"The hospital staff will be put to work in taking some 800 new recruits through a strict physical examination. My job is to give the smallpox vaccine. I feel sorry for my first 10 or 15 'guinea pigs' upon whom I will have to practice.

"We are getting here in Puyallup one of the best equipped and the most modern hospitals in a camp of this type in the United States, for which we are lucky. As it is not yet completed I am unable to describe it to you. I am not going to be a bit surprised if this becomes our permanent settlement for the duration. Everything so far seems to indicate it."

Shimomura said the Japanese are permitted radios and newspapers and that salesmen are allowed to call at the camp.

"We are confined to the camp," he said, "but are not restricted."