<Begin Segment 21>

RP: Can you give us your memory of the experience in Poston where your husband eventually was picked up by the FBI? What, what led to, to that?

NM: Well, I'm not sure exactly what. But I think his talks that he made to the group, to the, the large group that was gathering together. And he gave these talks on newspaper and magazine news that, to the people. Because the people were absolutely ignorant about what was going on because they couldn't use their radios either. And, and so he would use these materials and sort of convey to the people, in Japanese of course, and, what was going on outside. And so of course the news hungry Japanese, the men especially, came, even from Camp II and Camp III. And so there were thousands of men in one group and I think that was kind of fearful for the administration. 'Cause my husband could say something and arouse this group and if you have thousands attacking the administration it'd be something terrible. And anyway, I guess that was sort of the feeling that the administration had. And so they probably figured it's best to get him out of camp. And so, so he was taken out. And the people to do that I guess was the FBI. So they came in.

RP: They came to your barrack room?

NM: Yes.

RP: Can you describe what happened?

NM: Well, they, they came in a car and parked out front. And our room was the end room. It was facing the street. So they came knocking and asked to come in. And so of course they came in. And they, they wanted, they just said, "We have, want to talk to your husband." Oh you know, "Talk to you," I guess they talked to him personally, "have a few questions to ask, and it won't take long." And I said, I don't know why, but I said, "Well, should I get his toothbrush and pajamas for him?" And they said, "Oh no, you don't have to do that." But I don't know why I asked such a question when just two men come in and want to talk to my husband. But I had a feeling I think that they were going to probably take him. Because a lot of the men were taken from the camp, even after the initial roundup, the various leaders in the camp itself were taken out. So, "No, don't, we just want to talk to him a little bit. But what they did was they took him out and went to Phoenix and he stayed overnight in the jail there. And Reverend Stewart was the minister in Mesa was able to visit him and so that's how we found out what had happened. And then from there I guess they drove on to Santa Fe. He was there in Santa Fe for over the winter. And then we joined him in Crystal City. I think it was around in April.

RP: 1944?

NM: '44, yes, the next year.

RP: And he had contracted tuberculosis?

NM: Yes, though he had that from way before while he was a student. And so he was mostly in the hospital, I think, in Santa Fe.

RP: Did you receive any letters or communication from him while he was there?

NM: Yeah, I probably did but I don't recall specifically what was said or anything.

RP: So you were pretty much left alone with your child?

NM: Uh-huh.

RP: Did you get any support from other members of your block or...

NM: Oh, yes. They were all supportive and I remember, I have an old friend of my husband's was living in another block but he came over and wanted to help me out. Do, you know, do whatever he can he said so, had support like that. So, I guess we just continued living as we were. I guess Connie came over after that.

Off Camera: Was that when she came?

NM: I think so. My younger sister came and helped at one point.

RP: So she, she was in Mesa at the time?

NM: Yes.

RP: And she came to the camp?

NM: Yes.

RP: And helped you during the time you were gonna deliver your...

NM: Yes, well, she came over to wash diapers. [Laughs]

RP: But not in the stream, right?

NM: Huh? No, not in the stream. No. In the lavatory that we had, latrine.

RP: Uh-huh.

Off Camera: So the FBI, they were kind of a little bit sneaky there saying that really you didn't have any inkling that they were gonna take --

NM: No.

RP: -- him away.

NM: No, we just thought that they were gonna just talk to him and go.

RP: Or maybe just an overnight in the jail. Maybe that was even...

NM: That, that wasn't implied at all. They just said that they want to talk where I wasn't present so they would take him out and, and talk to him.

RP: And was it the typical FBI look with the long coats and the fedoras and...

NM: No, I don't think so. I think they were just natural looking and so I don't, I think I had a glimpse of their car.

Off Camera: Pretty informal.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2010 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.