<Begin Segment 17>

RP: So, being one of the first sort of volunteer groups to Poston, what were your responsibilities once you got off the bus? How did you help to, to set up the camp?

NM: Well, I guess after, we had to go to our little stack of straw and mattress covers and fill our mattress. I think that was one of the first things we did. And then I don't know how my husband was assigned to be a block manager, but I guess sort of leading the group into the camp anyway. So he was the block manager there. And then afterwards the, some of the younger people took over. But, I think like I told you before, the El Centro group was already, they were in Block 5. We were across the street in Block 6. So, they had their own setup I suppose. But we sort of met the group that were coming into 6 and helped them adjust. I guess my husband was a block manager for a while so taking care of all the needs, distributing whatever, mattress or getting them ironing boards and stuff like that.

RP: So you, when you first walked into the, the barrack room, what did you see in there?

NM: Nothing. There was nothing in there I guess, just the four walls. And, I don't even think the windows were covered. They were just open windows. But I don't remember my walking in actually, so... too many things going on I guess.

RP: And you helped in the processing of folks who were being sent to the camp.

NM: Yeah, coming in, yeah.

RP: What did you, do you recall what you specifically did?

NM: No. No I don't.

RP: Was there a large building where people kind of filed through?

NM: Yes, there was a reception area I guess you'd call it. And so I think different ones of us had to do the clerical work and things like that. But I don't know exactly what I did.

RP: Do you, did you get a sense of, what were the, the people's emotions as they came through that reception center?

NM: No, I don't recall except they were all very quiet and the face, shigata ga nai kind of a face. You had to take it.

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2010 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.