MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMISSION ON WARTIME RELOCATION AND INTERNMENT OF CIVILIAN CITIZENS.

My name is George Murakami of __________ Sumner, Wash. 98390. I am a gardener and farmer. I am 59 years old.

I was living and working in eastern Wash. as a railroad gang worker.

I was angered, discouraged, and unbelieable that the United States would do this to me. We had two months time to get our things in order to get to concentration camp. Our neighbor took us to the concentration camp.

Our family loss was about fifty thousand, not including our earnings through our internment.

We were interned temporary at Puyallup assembly center and then shipped to Minidoka, Idaho.

We were living in ship lap barracks. The trains took us us from Puyallup to Minidoka Idaho.

The camp looked desolate and bleak. We were furnished cotton bags to stuff with straws for our bed mattress.

In camp we worked on the farm and raised vegetables. It was very difficult to adjust to camp.

My family was living in camp. Our family relation in camp was unchanged.

We had no difficulty with loyalty oath because we were born Americans.

We had many small events that did not have to big an impact.

During Post camp I volunteered to join the army. The most difficult problem was trying to prove that I was loyal and be accepted by the local American population.

The WWII incarceration affected my life very much. I will never forget it.

[Page 2]

I believe I should be compensated about One Hundred Thousand dollars for being forced to go to a concentration camp.

My younger brother also served in the army.

Thanking you for your attention and consideration for this long overdued problem.

Very Sincerely Yours,
Signed [Signed]
July 5, 1981.