<Begin Segment 6>

AC: So where were you when you found out about Pearl Harbor?

NH: I was at a meeting in Caldwell, Caldwell, Idaho. We were at a JACL meeting, and it was announced during that meeting. It was a terrible shock, then. So just never suspected, you know, like everyone else, never suspected anything like that would happen. I didn't encounter anything unpleasant, even after that. 'Cause it was in a community that you knew different ones quite well.

[Interruption]

AC: How did you feel when you heard the news?

NH: It was just a shock, you know. It just felt like something that couldn't have happened. So I never even gave it a thought what was gonna happen, because my parents were in that restricted area, you know. At that time, nothing like that was known, but, of course, this came after that. So because I had already established myself over here, relatives were allowed to move, otherwise they had to go into the camps there that they had in Portland.

AC: So what was the general feeling of the community when this executive order came about?

NH: Well, the people that you knew was fine. Ontario was especially nice. The surrounding areas like Vale and Payette, they encountered some unpleasant things that happened, and they didn't treat us too well, you know. But Ontario was exceptionally nice. Of course, there was incidents there, too, but not like the other areas like Vale and Payette.

AC: What did you hear that happened?

NH: Pardon?

AC: What happened in those other places?

NH: Well, they were refused service in certain businesses, and well, they showed hostility in several ways, even were turned down by some of the churches. So in any way they could express their bitterness, they did show it.

AC: What kinds of things happened in Ontario?

NH: Oh, it was few of the business, very few of the business that denied their service. So other than... I don't recall anything drastic happening at all.

AC: What was the general feeling in the community towards President Roosevelt when this executive order was announced?

NH: Well, it was unpleasant, you know, and disappointing, very disappointing. Just certain expressions like that. But, see, it's been a while ago, so as far as the detailed reaction, don't recall too much.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 2004 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.