To: Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
From: Frank Hisayasu, _________ Spokane, WA 99204
Re: Testimony for the Seattle Hearings

Mr. Chairman:

I am Frank Hisayasu and I now live in Spokane, Washington. I would like to tell you about harrasment and abuse just before the evacuation. I was born in the South Park area of Seattle. I grew up there. Before the war and the evacuation, I operated a light lunch room, was in the wholesale produce business and leased and subleased farmlands.

When everyone realized that the evacuation was coming, the Japanese farmers in the area did not want to put their money into crops. They knew they would not be around for the harvest. They wanted to save the money for the evacuation. The Japanese farmers knew me from my wholesale produce business and from the leases I held for friends. I was also bilingual. Because of these reasons, the Farm Security Agency made me an interpreter. I was told I would be considered a traitor if I did not become an interpreter. The Agency made me tell these farmers that if they did not put in their crops, they would be treated as traitors. I was told to tell them that the Agency would arrange for the harvest and that the harvest money would be forwarded. The money was never forwarded. The farmers lost their money. Many farmers blamed me for the loss of their money. They thought I had betrayed them. That I had told them lies. All because I was made to be an interpreter.

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I applied for voluntary relocation because of the bad feelings towards me from my interpreting job. I could not leave because I was under supoena in a trial. After the trial the judge heard I had missed my chance to voluntarily relocate during the permitted period, so he arranged for a special permit for me to relocate voluntarily. Most had to go to a camp. At the same time I went on voluntary relocation. It looked to many that I had a special arrangement with the government. This made them think even more that I was a traitor to them. Some threatened me. My reputation was damaged. I did not feel safe to go to camp with the others. I know that even today, many have not forgiven me for what I was forced to do. This loss of my good name still affects me and my family.

The light lunch room that I owned and operated was across from the Boeing plant. I was born and raised in this area. I had many friends and knew many of the plant workers whom I served in my lunch room. When the war came, despite my American citizenship, I was required to have a permit to operate my business. This was issued by the MP's in the area. Everytime a new group of MP's were assigned, they would require me to get a new permit. They would pick me up at bayonet point and march me infront of my friends and customers to their office for a new permit. This happened 5 or 6 times.

When I was trying to sell my lunch room, I ran into the Army again. I was dealing with an attorney who had offices in the Northern Life Tower in Seattle. The Army was using a large part of that building. Whenever I went there to talk to the attorney, I would be stopped by the MP's or guards. After a delay with calls and discussions, I would be marched to the Attorney's office with a guard at bayonet point. This happened 4 times. I still remember the embarrassment

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and the shame.

These incidents of abuse and harassment, cause me and my family, not only loss of property and money but also loss of friends and reputation.

Thank you.

[Signed]
Frank Hisayasu