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LT: So you had been a Boy Scout for five to six years growing up. And that influenced an activity that you organized while you were at Minidoka.

KY: Yes. You know, like I said, I was bored, so I had something to do, and that was one thing I could say was constructive. Secondly, I was able to take the boys out of the camp for field trips like fishing, all that kind stuff, and other people couldn't do that. We were able to do it. They gave us permission. So that much influence the Boy Scouts had on the administration, so they encouraged us to do more of that.

LT: How many boys were involved in your Boy Scout troop?

KY: Oh, we had quite a few, fifty, maybe more. Yeah, we had a big group.

LT: And this was the only Boy Scout troop at Minidoka.

KY: Yeah.

LT: Well, what is the Boy Scout motto and what significance did that have for you in camp?

KY: Okay. The basic principle is "be prepared," that's what we teach the boys, be prepared for whatever happens. So that's the reason why you have all these different activities, to prepare the boys to be prepared for the future. That's the function of the Boy Scouts. That would make a good boy a better boy.

LT: And so what kinds of activities did you have in and outside camp to help prepare your boys?

KY: Okay, we were able to study the various sagebrush, and the plants that grew around that. Then study the earth, what's made up of the earth, the rocks, and things like this. Also fishing for entertainment.

LT: Well, you said that you were the only group that was allowed to go outside the barbed wire. Did guards follow you?

KY: No, no, nobody followed us. That much trust the administration had in the Boy Scouts. So that speaks well for Boy Scouts, the repetition of the Boy Scouts really must touch the administration.

LT: What were the favorite kinds of outings that your boys had?

KY: You know, I think they... anything we did, because they were able to get out and explore their surroundings, study the plants, the flowers, everything. The rocks, the soil, as nature, they were able to understand what really nature is, how much we rely on nature. Basically you take nature as granted, we do. But it doesn't. It teaches you a lot of things that you would never knew before.

LT: Thank you.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.