Densho Digital Archive - Ruth Sasaki Interview (denshovh-sruth-01-0009)

<Begin Segment 9>

TI: So pretty soon, the people started getting the orders that they have to leave. So what did your family do? How did they prepare?

RS: Well, that was the hardest thing, because we were only allowed just a couple of luggage, I think, that's all. We had to leave everything behind, and that was a sad thing, because we couldn't take like your toys, if you're little, you know, you have your favorite doll or something. The main thing was taking our clothes, and that was it. And that's something, when they say you can't do this or you can't take that.

TI: So what happened to everything else that you couldn't take?

RS: Just left behind. Everything was left behind.

TI: Now at this point, the house that you were in, did your parents own the house?

RS: No, it was, we rented it.

TI: You rented it.

RS: Yeah.

TI: And so they just pretty much left things behind?

RS: Yeah.

TI: And was the property owned by Japanese at this time?

RS: No. It was by a real nice Swiss people. They were real good to us.

TI: Oh, so did they let you keep your stuff there, do you remember?

RS: Well, yeah. I mean, I don't know what we did with it or what. We had no choice, because it was just, all of a sudden thing. You didn't have days to plan anything or get rid of this or that.

TI: So tell me about this Swiss family you said was really nice to you. Do you remember their names?

RS: No, I don't.

TI: And so why would you say they were really nice to you? What made them nice?

RS: Just something, they were good to us, and they were good to me and the boys, and they were good to Mom and Dad. And little things, they would just help them. But that was about it.

TI: When they said they were, like, nice to you and the boys, what would be...

RS: They didn't mistreat us or be strict, saying, "Clean that up," because it's their property or something. They're just good, all-around people, and they were older, too, I remember that. They were dairy people.

TI: So now, so you packed what you could carry, and then what happens next? How do you go from...

RS: Then we went from Gresham, we went to, by bus, I think bus, to Portland. They have this big livestock building there, and that's where we were all put into because they were still building this camp there in Minidoka.