<Begin Segment 9>

AL: So -- and I'm sorry I sort of jump around a little bit -- but after Pearl Harbor, of course, the Terminal Islanders, I think, from looking at the records and the history, got sort of the short end of the stick. Because where other people had a week's notice to pack up and leave and the army moved them, and Terminal Islanders, they just told you to get off the island, right?

GW: Yeah.

AL: So where did you guys go?

GW: That's what I'm saying, we went from Terminal Island to Boyle Heights.

AL: Oh, okay, that's right.

GW: Went to, I guess we rented a house on Boyle Heights, but that's when in Terminal Island is where we had to get rid of most of the... that's where the storyline goes where Mom had to get rid of everything for a refrigerator, sell it for five dollars, plates, she'd get so mad, she broke 'em up.

AL: She really did?

GW: Yeah.

AL: Did she ever express any concern or fear or anything during that time before you guys went to Manzanar and after your dad was taken away? I mean, how did she handle that?

GW: You know, that's the funny part. I can't remember if she was afraid or what really happened. Only thing I can remember is that she was packing up and getting everything that we could together. And I don't know how she arranged for us to move to Boyle Heights or what, but we got there.

AL: Was your grandmother with you the whole time?

GW: You know, I think she was. I think she was, and I think she was with us when she went up to Boyle Heights, and I think she was with us when we went to camp.

AL: What do you remember about the day you left for camp?

GW: What I remember is that the day before we left for camp, Mom took me out, went to the store, bought some boots, some jeans, flannel shirts, and it was like getting dressed to go to a camp, summer camp. But the frightening part is that we had to get up at three o'clock in the morning and get in the back of this truck, and he put a tarp over it, the back of the truck, so you can't see what's inside. So I guess we were trying to sneak back into West Los Angeles or get out of harm's way and whatever.

AL: So you weren't supposed to leave Boyle Heights?

GW: I'm not sure. Only thing I know is that we were really doing it sneaky-like to get down there without being seen.

AL: Because some of Boyle Heights came to Manzanar, some.

GW: Yeah, I think what was happening is that Mom wanted us to get to West L.A. because of my sister and their family, they wanted us to be together.

AL: Did all of your parents' children end up in Manzanar, or did they end up in other camps?

GW: Other...

AL: Camps. Was your whole family in Manzanar?

GW: Yeah.

AL: So how did you get there? Did you go by bus or train?

GW: Bus. Went by bus, I remember the bus.

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 2014 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.