<Begin Segment 16>

AL: And that, you're talking about when your father was questioned, what do you recall about or what do you know about the "loyalty questionnaire" and how your parents addressed that?

SO: Well, this is after reading all the papers I received from the WRA, and he answered "yes." But when you read all the papers, you'll see where at first I think they had doubts about my father because of my brother in Japan, but later, once they became trustworthy of him, it stated that they thought he was an internationalist and that he would be loyal to America as long as he remained here, and he felt everyone should be loyal to the country in which they lived, not necessarily where they were born.

AL: Now, what point do you think your parents decided that their future was in America?

SO: Hmm, that's hard to say. Maybe once we had been educated to a certain point, then it'd be hard for us to go to Japan and start over again? We never really talked about that.

AL: So you said that Ralph Merritt was present when your father was questioned. Do you know if he was questioned other than for the "loyalty questionnaire"?

SO: Uh-huh. You have the papers I'm giving you.

AL: Do you know what kinds of things he was questioned about, or why they were questioning him?

SO: Well, just to see, because my brother was in Japan...

AL: Okay, so it was about him personally.

SO: Right, yeah.

AL: Do you know with the "loyalty questionnaire," if other people sought out counsel from your father?

SO: I don't know that.

AL: Because it was very difficult...

SO: Yeah, I think a lot of the questions they asked is, do you think the people, some of the people here will return to Japan, and he just always said, "I don't know, it's up to them." He couldn't speak for the others.

AL: Do you know how much if any of his... I don't know if you call it a sermon or a talk or whatever, do you think he had to make a conscious effort to stay non-political, or do you think... sometimes there's a mix of religion and politics and how you walk that line as a minister in a situation like Manzanar.

SO: He was a... he was not political at all, so he kept a neutral stance. And just reading all the questions they asked him, he was not willing to take any side.

AL: So you don't think he had any sort of... I guess I shouldn't say preference, but as far as the outcome of the war, he was just gonna take what came?

SO: Right, right.

AL: I didn't realize until I saw the photograph of the funeral from the riot, that your father was there at the time.

SO: Uh-huh.

AL: Do you know anything about that?

SO: No, I don't.

AL: You don't recall anything?

SO: No.

AL: Or him ever talking about it?

SO: No. He didn't share that much with us, you know, I guess because we were so young.

AL: Do you think in the decision with the "loyalty questionnaire" that your mother had a voice, or was it just that your father decided and that's what the family did?

SO: She always went with... he just made all the decisions. I think that's typical of the Japanese families.

AL: Do you think he sought her counsel at all?

SO: He may have talked to her, but I think the final decision was always his.

AL: You know, I'm really curious, and I know we've talked about her a little bit, but just to know more about her as a person. Because he's the one in all the pictures.

SO: Right.

AL: He's the one in all the writing, I mean, he is so prevalent in camp life, and I don't see anything about her. So what can you tell us about her?

SO: Well, she was a very down-to-earth woman, I think her children were her pride and joy. And she respected my father. So I don't think she ever questioned him; what he said went. She really didn't have any personal agenda.

AL: Do you think it was difficult for her to have your brother in Japan?

SO: Oh, yes.

AL: How would how she dealt with it be different than your father?

SO: I don't think any different. They just wanted him to be safe.

AL: How often would they hear from him or about him?

SO: Maybe about once a year.

AL: Do you know if they were able to send anything other than telegrams back and forth?

SO: No, that was it.

AL: Sort of financial money or anything?

SO: That was it. The letters from the Red Cross, and it'd be very simple. I think some are in your materials I'm giving you.

<End Segment 16> - Copyright © 2013 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.