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BH: That leads us to talking about the beginning of the war. How did you and your family hear about the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

HI: On the radio, I think.

BH: And your parents' reactions?

HI: Oh, they were shocked. They had a shortwave radio, too, and they listened to both sides. I'm sure they were very worried, but they didn't show it or explain to us what would happen. Of course, they didn't know.

BH: Did your family have any dealings with the FBI?

HI: Other than they came out and searched for contrabands and radios and stuff like that.

BH: So I assume they took the shortwave radio.

HI: Oh, yes. My dad had a gun, (and) he used to go pheasant hunting. They took that, radios, and cameras. Oh, and my dad burned all the Japanese books he had, for fear... I don't think they were anything to worry about, but he just burned 'em all.

BH: Did he ever talk about what he was doing or why?

HI: (No). They wouldn't tell us.

BH: Very typical of the Isseis. So you were in the eighth grade when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Did things change at school?

HI: I didn't think so. Everybody was still friendly.

BH: How did you decide what you were going to take with you and what you weren't going to take?

HI: I don't think we had much choice, just your clothes and basic needs. I had a fairly new Shirley Temple doll with the curly hair and the pleated red dotted skirt, and I wanted to take that, of course, but no, you couldn't take that. Then I got a brand-new bicycle after picking berries, I had enough money saved up to buy it, which I had, and couldn't take that, and so we had to sell it.

BH: When you were able to come home after the war, were your doll and bike still there?

HI: No. I sold the bike, so I knew the bike went to some person.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.