<Begin Segment 13>

RP: Now, one of the first things you did in Manzanar was working at the camouflage net factory.

KY: Uh-huh.

RP: What do you recall about that experience?

KY: Well, it was something I'd never done before, but it was simple enough. And... I could still smell the smell of the... camouflage is, was, string about this wide [Gestures with fingers] and you had to string it through a, like a netting. And we, that's what we did all day long. But that only lasted a few weeks if anything. So it wasn't a long time. Just a brief while.

RP: Did you work with a team of other people of did you weave the net yourself?

KY: I did it myself but, but there was, there was a lot of people that joined with me in stringing these, these yarn, if you want to call it that. It was quite a few people there. And I think there was a competition, who could make, make the most nets or something like that. And I remember getting a slice of watermelon for a prize.

RP: So how long would it take you to weave a net?

KY: I don't know. I can't remember that. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't something that I looked forward to. It was simple work. After all we were just weaving things.

RP: Do you remember how you got the job there?

KY: No, I don't remember how I got it. All I know is I was doin' it.

RP: Can you describe the shed where the nets were woven? Do you remember the large shed where the nets were woven?

KY: I'm, I would imagine anything where the netting was but I really can't remember how, how the nettings worked and if it was a building like this. I can't remember anything of that stuff. But, it must have, it must have been some nets hanging down and just weave it, yarn. I guess it's yarn.

RP: Strips.

KY: Strips of canvas.

RP: So you mentioned that you could still smell the...

KY: Yeah, I could, I could almost remember how it was.

RP: What did they smell like?

KY: Oh, you can just imagine whatever. I can't tell you exactly what it smells like but...

RP: Did you wear any protective...

KY: No.

RP: Some people had masks and...

KY: No, I don't remember having any masks.

RP: You didn't come down with any rash from the strips or the chemicals?

KY: No. Like I say, I didn't do it very long. Just a while, short time. I guess I was glad to be goin' someplace else, doing something else.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright &copy; 2011 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.