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HH: Do you remember what you were doing when the war broke out December 7th?
YO: Yes, I remember that very clearly. I did not have a job at that time. I had graduated. My mother had a vegetable/fruit store. At that time there was a butcher that sold meat, then there was the groceryman on the other side, that sold groceries. So we sold mainly fruits and vegetables. And I remember when I got the news, that I was at home. And immediately told my brother who was making Christmas tree stands because it was December 7th, and during the time between the 7th and the 25th, we sold Christmas trees at our store. And remember very clearly the day became very frightened. When all the family came home that evening, we gathered around and discussed what would happen to us. I had a brother who was three years older than I was, and he was already drafted and serving in the U.S. Army.
HH: What kinds of crises or problems did you encounter when you had to close up your home in Hollywood?
YO: Well, we had our store that had to be sold. We could not sell it, therefore we left it and gave it to the man who took care of the grocery store. He said he will take care of it, he will hire somebody to run the store. The home, of course, we had to get rid of our furniture within the period of about two weeks. We saw signs on telephone poles everywhere, giving us a deadline as to when we will have to move where we will be picked up, and the amount of household goods that we can carry with us. At that time we were told that we will be going to Pomona Assembly Center. From there, we had no idea at that time that we were to be shipped to Wyoming.
HH: I see. So from Pomona you went to Wyoming? Is that Heart Mountain?
YO: Heart Mountain, Wyoming, yes. We were in Pomona about three months.
<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 1994 JACL Philadelphia. All Rights Reserved.