<Begin Segment 12>

SO: I remember seeing the men still building, the carpenters and construction workers.

KL: Did they talk to you at all, or did you talk to them, those construction workers?

SO: No, but we were happy, we were free. We were among ourselves, and the majority were Japanese Americans. So it just felt safe.

KL: Especially after that school.

SO: Right, yes. And Terminal Island. It just felt like a place to run around, it just felt safe. And then to see people of your kind, Japanese Americans, it was nice.

MS: I'm sorry, I didn't see any workers. Did you?

SO: Yes, I remember them building still, pounding away.

MS: So it was a while.

SO: Yes. Like we were among the first to go to Manzanar. I think the people that lived in L.A., they still had, I don't think they had to leave their homes like we did. I think it was only --

KL: Terminal Island was definitely very different.

SO: Right, yeah. I don't know about the people in L.A. Oh, yeah, they went to Santa Anita, to the racetrack, yes, and lived in the horse stalls, like my husband and his family.

KL: Oh, he did?

SO: Yeah. Pomona and Santa Anita.

AL: Can I ask you another question? I know we're moving forward into Manzanar, but you said you remember the Terminal Island Baptist Church. Some people have recalled when they were moved or moving, that different people came forward and helped them or took them to a place. Do you recall when you were going to Manzanar or were leaving the island, any involvement of people who were not of Japanese ancestry? Did anybody from your church come and help, or anybody else?

SO: Was Miss Smith in Terminal Island? Miss Smith.

MS: Who's Miss Smith?

SO: She was a church lady.

MS: I didn't see anybody.

SO: I don't recall.

AL: Did anybody help you in Compton?

SO: I think who helped Mama, did you hear of Father Lavery or...

MS: Oh, yeah, there was a Catholic priest from L.A. called Father Lavery.

AL: Hugh Lavery.

SO: Oh, really? I think I heard about him after the war. I don't know if our parents were trying to get in contact with him, but that name, I do remember. And how he helped them, I don't know. Do you?

MS: They said that he had helped take some of the people's things.

SO: Belongings.

MS: And kept it for them. But as I recall, we just left everything, (including our father's fishing) boat.

SO: Yeah, and I don't remember carrying anything either. I just remember just holding on to our sister.

MS: I don't remember anybody else.

AL: Okay, thank you.

MS: We weren't very popular at that time. [Laughs]

KL: You said you weren't?

SO: No, that people didn't come to help you, you know, they just wanted you out.

KL: You mentioned scorpions at Manzanar. Was there anything, what else do you remember being new? Do you remember other animals there that were a surprise, or that you worried about?

MS: I just remember big scorpions.

SO: I just remember the snow. It was the first time we saw snow.

KL: What did you think of that?

SO: Thought it was neat.

MS: I thought it was nice because the older kids, they built a big...

SO: Slide.

MS: Slide.

KL: Out of snow?

MS: Yeah. So that was a lot of fun.

KL: Was that right after you arrived?

SO: No. [Laughs] We had nothing. We used to play a lot of Kick the Can and tag and marbles.

KL: Who were your neighbors in your building or across the way, do you remember?

SO: Uh-uh.

MS: I don't remember.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2012 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.