<Begin Segment 10>

JC: And then I want to return to something else. You said that after Vanport, and you had a lot here in Gresham and you set up a tent, talk about what that was like to --

FO: The roughing, we were going to rough it. We thought it was going to be fun because here summer's coming on, but it rained on us. But I, when we first moved out of Vanport, I want to thank the American Red Cross. And to this day, they're one of my favorite charities. I'll always remember them because they helped us with cots and the dresser drawer and some blankets. They started us out.

JC: So the Red Cross provided everybody from Vanport with certain material things?

FO: I don't know about everybody, but for people so, because I don't know where everyone went to tell you the truth. We had a place to come to, but everyone, I'm sure most people had no place to go, so I don't know how they were set up. But I'll always remember the American Red Cross.

JC: So did you use your American Red Cross cot in your new tent?

FO: Uh-huh. There may be one still up in the garage attic, I don't know. But that was a rough beginning when it rained on our tent. And my baby got pneumonia, and we landed in the hospital. That was a hard start.

JC: So your child was just, Jeremiah was how old when you were living --

FO: A toddler, little over a year.

JC: How long did it take 'til John was able to build the structure?

FO: Well, we moved into our first section in October, hurriedly. [Inaudible] in the rough structure.

JC: Sawdust in your ears.

FO: Uh-huh, uh-huh. Same house, we're still here.

JC: So the house we're interviewing you in is an addition to the original house in 1948.

FO: Started in '48.

JC: 1948.

FO: And Johnny actually built it with his bare hands. He didn't have the equipment he had in later years. It was, he worked during the day and in the evenings. He worked till midnight.

JC: And so --

FO: But this is a no mortgage house. We were able to build it without, and yet we could have taken advantage of the Oregon State Veterans Loan or the federal loan, but we opted not to.

JC: So you didn't take advantage of those programs. You built, when you built this house, it was totally when you had money or,

FO: No. We didn't have money. We went to buy material as he was able from his paycheck.

JC: So you never borrowed any money?

FO: So we never borrowed money. This is a mortgage free home, never had a mortgage.

JC: That could be unheard of.

FO: Well, that's what my neighbor tells me. But I would not recommend it. Today's young people would not be able to put up with the type of housekeeping that you have to endure.

JC: Tell me the names of your siblings. You're Frances.

FO: Yes. My oldest sister is Grace and then Joe and then Mary, Josephine and Gladys. My father when he first came to America in Oakland, he attended a business college. And he was a Christian, and my sister is still seeking out and still when he became a Christian. But he gave us all Christian names at birth, so he had the foresight. So we all have Christian names on our birth certificate for which I'm very proud of.

JC: And do you see there having been an advantage to having a Christian name? Or tell me more. You said you're very proud of that. What does that mean?

FO: Oh, because so many of my friends and peers, they were given Japanese names and no American names. And today, their offsprings all have American first names and maybe a Japanese second name. And I'm proud that our father had the foresight to give us all English, Christian names. I think it was remarkable for him to have done that so long ago when most of the children were named Japanese names.

JC: So he was starting you out as Americans?

FO: Uh-huh.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.