<Begin Segment 12>

AC: Now you had mentioned that you had friends in Minidoka, and that you had to have, you traveled there to visit them. What was that like?

NH: It was a shock. I didn't realize that they had to live the way they did. Their apartments were just divided by just the wall, and the apartments weren't, just a single board wall, nothing lined to keep them warm or anything, and they had a little pot stove there. Well, it was just like living quarters that we had for our berry pickers on the farm, you know, just like camping. And I didn't realize that they were living like that. So I had relatives in there, cousins and uncles, aunt, and so as soon as I found out that we were allowed to go in there to visit them, my husband and I drove over there right away to see them. Of course, we had to have a permit to enter the camp to visit. So I was just thankful that my family didn't have to go there, because I didn't realize it was that bad in there. Of course, all the outdoor plumbing and everything, which was all outside, you know. It was a transition that I thought these people that lived in nice homes in Portland and such, they could stand to have to live that way, but it was a matter of being forced to. I was thankful myself that I didn't have to put my family there. And it was out in the desert area where there was no trees whatsoever, just setting up a camp out in the bare desert. So I really hand it to them to be able to live like that. Sad part is that they were citizens and had to put up with that. But wartime, I guess there's all kinds of conditions that unexpected to happen, too.

AC: How did that make you feel?

NH: That they had to live that way? I felt like it just wasn't right. They were denied their rights, denied their rights, and they were forced to live that way under strict rules like that. There's nothing that we could do anything about.

AC: What was the process to get permission to even visit your relatives in Minidoka?

NH: You know, I don't recall. I think all we had to do was apply. Soon as we found out, all we had to do was apply.

AC: Did you bring gifts or anything like that?

NH: Yes, yes. Because we were, it was mainly in the food line.

AC: What kinds of things did you bring?

NH: Oh, that's a long time ago. Probably fruit for one thing. Other than in detail, it's hard to recall.

AC: What was your impression when you arrived at the camp? You said you had, what was the process of even getting into the camp?

NH: I had to have this permit, all I had to do was present that, and I was able to go in.

AC: What did you think when you saw the camp?

NH: Well, it was... I didn't realize it was that primitive. I thought it was places that would be a little bit nicer than that, something that had more warmth to it. And then I went to their dining room, which was long tables just like, you know, just like they have in the army, I guess, long tables like this.

AC: You said they had to live by lots of rules. What kind of rules did they have to live by?

NH: In camp? Mainly going outside the gates there, I guess. I really don't know, 'cause I didn't live there. I know that they couldn't leave outside their territory there, the barbed wires, 'cause they had guards all around the camp there. But as far as the detailed rules they had, I don't recall.

AC: Well, after the war, did you ever go and speak to your relatives that were interned there about what it was like living in the camp?

NH: I believe I only went there to visit them twice in the camps there.

AC: But did you speak to them after, after the war about their experiences in camp?

NH: Oh, this I have. I have cousins that live out here, out past Cairo Junction there, they were in there. You know, I've heard too many stories from different ones that were in the camp. It was very uncomfortable.

AC: What kinds of stories did you hear?

NH: Well, mainly the living quarters, and the lack of comfort of heat. They didn't say too much about their dining. They more or less had to eat what they were served, you know. But it's mainly living under the conditions in their living quarters and their cabins, having to live with other families and such, too. Well, have you interviewed anybody that were in camp? Well, George Iseri was one of them. So they could tell you more about what it was like, 'cause I don't have that experience.

AC: I just wondered if you, if you had talked to your relatives and got their perspective.

NH: Oh, uh-huh.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2004 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.