<Begin Segment 21>

RP: Tami, you mentioned that the WRA office in New York told you that you shouldn't gather with large numbers of other Japanese Americans. Were there any other statements or advice that they had to share with you about how to conduct yourself?

TH: Other than not making yourself an obvious group, but there were no other admonitions. We could go wherever we wanted to, but don't gather as a large group, as a conspicuous group.

RP: Did you have to report any changes in your situation to the office?

TH: No, no. We just reported when we wanted to come home again, when it was open for us to come home. Then we checked in with them, and we were given twenty-five dollars to come home, and a ticket home.

RP: Is that what you got when you left Topaz, too?

TH: Yes. When we left Topaz, we each got twenty-five dollars and a ticket.

KP: And you got the same when you left New York? When you left New York?

TH: When we left New York it was the same. We got twenty-five dollars and a train ticket.

RP: I'm sorry, my memory may be getting shorter as we conduct this interview, but was the WRA instrumental in helping you find this job? This sewing job?

TH: Yes, they had an employment office there.

RP: And this was the only job that you held in New York?

TH: I had a... this was it, I guess. I was only there in New York, what, eight months?

RP: What was it like to come back to Redwood City?

TH: Pure joy.

RP: Tell us, maybe kind of lead us through the first days and weeks of your return to Redwood City. Who came to welcome you or support you those first couple of days and weeks?

TH: As I recall, we came home rather quietly. We didn't want to attract a lot of attention, but it was really nice that our car was in good working order and we can go to the store and shop for our groceries and anything else we needed. We felt very secure.

RP: Did Mr. Morrish visit you?

TH: Yes, he did. So it was nice to see him, and, of course, Harry Lee and our Filipino man who was working for my father before the war. So it was nice to see old friends again.

RP: Had Mr. Morrish sent you money while you were in Topaz?

TH: I don't think so, but anytime my father needed funds, I'm sure that he was able to get them from whatever account he had there.

RP: Were you able to return to your residence right away when you came back to Redwood City?

TH: Yes, 'cause Harry Lee's employees were living there. But they left soon after, after we decided to come home.

RP: And did the other, the other families that were part of the Horgan Ranch also return? Or what, how did their lives change, do you know?

TH: Everybody returned to Horgan Ranch, yes.

RP: So as a group, you were very fortunate.

TH: We were very fortunate. We had scattered to different camps and different areas, but as soon as the war was over and California was open to us again, they came back.

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