<Begin Segment 11>

KL: What do you recall of the trip to Manzanar?

MN: We gathered about seven o'clock in the morning, and it depends on where they live. Some people just went to Santa Anita racetrack, where they kept the horses. That's where they were waiting 'til Manzanar. And on an old broken down bus, so we left Los Angeles seven o'clock in the morning and we didn't get to Manzanar until dark almost, evening.

KL: You were on the bus all the way?

MN: All the way.

KL: Wow. Where did you gather?

MN: I guess some bus depot.

KL: What was it like at the depot? Was it crazy -- I mean, I've heard, one man told me his father drove buses from Washington to one of the camps, and his father said it took hours to load the buses because there were so many people, it was crazy.

MN: Yeah.

KL: What was it like for you?

MN: Well, soldiers with guns, couple soldiers were there, so we got on. Anyway, so a long bus ride, and they gave us lunch for, sandwich in between. But usually takes about six hours from Los Angeles to Manzanar. Took all day.

KL: Yeah, it took us four, just in our private car with no stops. Did you speak with the bus driver or with the soldiers or anyone?

MN: No, no, we didn't talk to soldiers. No, soldiers were just standing. Bus driver, I don't remember, but he was nice, I think.

KL: Was there a soldier on the bus with you?

MN: I don't remember, but maybe. I don't know.

KL: Did people, what was the bus ride like? Was it quiet, or did people talk?

MN: No, it was pretty quiet. But how many hours, so we talked a little bit. It was really quiet.

KL: Did you know anything about Manzanar, or the Owens Valley?

MN: No. That Manzanar was the middle of the desert, and when we got there it was windy and the wind was like a sandstorm, really bad storm.

KL: What was the ride like for your daughter? Was she quiet, maybe, or was she --

MN: She was quiet, but she, my... I had to travel having the nursing, so I was using the powdered milk, which I dissolved in hot, warm water. But I made enough to, for the bus ride, but at, when I got to Manzanar it was spoiled already. So she was hungry, went to mess hall, and we got there kind of dark, so mess hall's already closed. So I guess I went to the office and asked for warm water to make formula.

KL: Did they have any?

MN: Yeah, they got the warm water from the mess hall for us. Then, besides, they have to feed us. They need to, only had lunch, and afternoon 'til dark didn't have any food on the bus, so when we got there they opened a mess hall and they fed us. I don't remember what.

KL: Could you see Manzanar at all?

MN: No.

KL: It was dark.

MN: Dark.

KL: Were there lights?

MN: Not too many, not too many lights. Because it, we went April 29th, but they were still building. They were not finished yet, but they're still putting the people there.

KL: Yeah.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2014 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.