Densho Digital Archive - John Tomita Interview (denshovh-tjohn

<Begin Segment 19>

KP: So, do you, do you remember the, the strike at Tule Lake?

JT: Yeah. Oh, boy.

KP: What was that about? What was...

JT: I really don't know. I really don't know. One day, I mean, we were going to, I mean, we have to go to motor pool to, we can't take our car to home. We have to go to motor pool to get our car. And the patrol stopped us. Next thing you know, they, they, I didn't know really what was... but I thought these kids that was in, that were, they were... we didn't get any clothes or stuff. I mean they, we got that black coat, peacoat or something they call it. Anyway, they were stealing peacoat out of the warehouse or something. And, anyway, the next day that the, the tanks were out there and then we were told that we can't go, go to work. Oh, I said, good deal, we'll go home. And then, gee, the next thing you know these tanks are going between the buildings and firing away, machine guns. Yeah.

KP: They were shooting in the air or...

JT: No, they were shooting... you could see the bullet path. Yeah, it was crazy. I don't know whether those tank went to every block, but I know they went to our block because we were all home and they told us to... we stayed. And after seeing that truck, tank come through... I know when we went to work they were out there with guns and everything, tanks, they line up and we don't have any whatchamacall, guns or anything. And they lined the tanks up and, and the next thing after, the tanks are going through the buildings and shooting the whatchamacall. But I didn't hear anybody getting shot or anything like that. But I know that I saw those bullets as they were hitting the ground. And that's right, I don't know when this happened. But one time the whole army went through the whole camp. Went through every apartment. They, the army says we have some guns or something and they, they were checking every... and they, they swept from one end, went through the whole camp like that. And they didn't find anything. They, I heard they picked up some radio or something like that.

KP: So, were you, they obviously went through your apartment as well.

JT: Yeah, they came to...

KP: What did they... did they order you out? How did that work?

JT: No, they, they came through and they, they went through all the suitcase and whatnot. And they didn't find anything. But I heard that some of the, the people, they, they have some money, cash. The, the cash is gone. And the, some of the people lost some jewelry and stuff. That was during the segregation. It was really a tough time there.

KP: Did you, were you aware of, well, there were the Kibei, there were the different groups that were in there?

JT: Oh, yeah.

KP: Yeah, what were, what were your personal ideas of what was going on? Were you trying to stay out of harm's way or what were you, what were you thinking about what was happening in camp?

JT: Well, I stayed away from it. I stayed away. I, our... you know, most Nisei -- the Nisei is the second generation -- where Kibeis are the one that are educated in Japan. They came back. And, in camp they were, after segregation, the Kibei, a lot of 'em, they thought they were up there. And, so I never respected them. But, I tried to stay, I don't think I ever got involved with them. I didn't like their attitude and I didn't like... yeah, well, I know they were going after all the pretty gals. [Laughs] And they got, some of the gals got married to them. And I said to myself, that's their business. I felt that.

KP: So you, your father always had the plan of going back to Isleton --

JT: Yeah.

KP: -- when he was finished.

JT: Yeah, somehow he had the confidence. Every time I talk about it, he said, "Oh, don't worry. We'll be going back."

KP: And, and I'm sure that... what was your perspective on the outcome of the war? Your father's and yours? Did you, who did you see winning the war when you were in there?

JT: Oh, I'm sure as far as he was concerned, he always thought that Japan was gonna win.

KP: Your, your father?

JT: Yeah. But toward the end, he start getting his doubt. But I know he's confident that Japan would never lose and, but I used to argue with him. How can, I mean, they don't, Japan never had the resource. Without the resource, how can they fight? So I felt that he shouldn't be... but I'd never argue with him.

RP: A couple of questions. John, you were just talking about your feelings about the Kibei in Tule Lake. Were you ever threatened or intimidated by them in any way?

JT: No. The only thing is that it was not a threat, but they were making a lot of racket. And, somehow I felt that I was threatened, but none of 'em really. Because they were boasting them self and, and they had a pretty big group going. They had a group organized. And I, somehow I didn't particularly care for it but they were there.