<Begin Segment 15>

KL: What was your first job in Manzanar?

HF: The camouflage, the camouflage netting.

KL: Yeah, how did you find out about that job opportunity?

HF: I don't know how we found out, there was word that gets around they're hiring. So my sister and I went, we worked that.

KL: Tell me about what that job was like, what was a typical shift?

HF: Because it's strips of gunnysack that we had to weave. And first there was, the background was a sample, so you had to follow that sample, the colors and everything, so we did that. And then you get that gunnysack lint on you, that's what I remember. But it wasn't bad.

KL: Who did you work with?

HF: Whoever that was working there. It didn't matter.

KL: Why did you, why were you interested in that job?

HF: It was a job, it was available. If you didn't work, you just played around, so since it was available, we worked. My sister went and worked in the canteen afterwards.

KL: Did you work at the factory until it closed?

HF: Yes, uh-huh.

KL: What do you know, what do you remember about its closure?

HF: I don't remember anything about the closure. I don't remember. I don't remember when it closed or anything. That's such a long time ago.

KL: Do you remember anybody... I've read that the camouflage net factory was somewhat controversial for some people because you had to be a citizen to work there and the wages were different. Did your parents or anybody care that you worked there?

HF: No. I only got twelve dollars a month. And then I read someplace they were paying more. Well, we never got paid more.

KL: What did you do after it closed?

HF: Then I went and found another job. I think I went and worked, I went and worked in the library for a while, then I went and worked in the mess hall for a while. Then I went and worked in the mess hall at the hospital, that's where I met my husband.

KL: Before we get there, tell us about the library. What did it look like and how did you get books for it?

HF: I don't know how the books, but the books were there. Somebody must have donated it.

KL: Was it in a... what kind of building was it?

HF: It was just a barrack. Everything was barrack, and then turned it into whatever we needed.

KL: What was your job for the library? What were your tasks?

HF: I don't remember what I did. Probably put the books away or something.

KL: Was it pretty popular, the library, or was it a quiet place?

HF: It was a quiet place.

KL: Yeah, I'm always curious about, you know, like what percentage of the people used the library.

HF: Well, I worked at the beginning, so there weren't too many people coming in yet. I think word didn't get around. And then you had to walk so far for anything.

KL: Where was it?

HF: I really don't remember what block it was in.

KL: But it was a distance even from --

HF: For me it wasn't that far, probably that's why I took that job.

<End Segment 15> - Copyright © 2013 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.