Title: Testimony of Ayako Okubo Hurd, (denshopd-i67-00297)
Densho ID: denshopd-i67-00297

Ayako Okubo Hurd
____________
Seattle, Wa. 98103

Retired.

My late husband, Rokuro Okubo, graduate of U. of W. was interned along with my two girls. ages 5 and 3 and was expecting my third child within 6 weeks. She was born in the Santa Anita Assembly Center June 16, 1942, in a make shift hospital of horse stalls hastily white washed. The horses tails were still hanging from the walls and also the stench of horse manure and urine was strong.

Due to the lack of sanitation. my baby's eyes were infected and suffered much damage to her eyes and was handicapped all thru school. She was not in good health and passed away in 1965. My oldest daughter had eczema and asthma and she had been on a strict diet before camp and it was very difficult to maintain her diet with the mess hall cooking.

Rokuro was a energetic leader before camp and it was sad to see him lose his fighting spirit and just gave up. hope mostly. He had a tremendous load on his shoulders thinking about the uncertainty of the future. This was the second shock in his life. His father lost their land

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on Vashon Island in 1921, one of the first court battles in King County.

There has been many other problems. racial. housing. job discriminations after our relocations in the midwest that will be related by others. I am writing this as a mother of a baby born in captivity and the conditions I suffered there. Must take this time to thank the many doctors and nurses that were interned as well and worked under adverse conditions and equipment to help us.

Time has a way of softening our memories and anger but to this day it is difficult to think of those days without shaking. The loss of family ties with families scattered in various camps and the economic loss and the years lost shall never be compensated.

Ayako Okubo Hurd 8/10/81

[Signed]

P.S. I am asking for monetary redress of R100,000 for economic and other reasons.

Ayako Okubo Hurd

[Signed]