Oral History of Mae Ninomiya, a Portland Resident Sent to an Internment Camp

http://www.ccrh.org/comm/slough/oral/ninomiya.htm

Let me begin my story from the Assembly Center, the former Pacific International Exposition Building on Marine Drive. This was the first place we entered in May of 1942.

We were housed in a barn where the animals had been placed for the exhibition show. Our compartment had plywood flooring covering the entryway. The only furniture was the six cots for our family of six. Our clothes were in two suitcases we were allowed for the entire family. Since we had very few changes of clothes, our greatest pleasure was to order more dresses or necessities through the Montgomery Ward Catalog.

Our endurance throughout the hot summer days, with the penetration of animal odors and our anxiety over our future, finally came to a close in September. We were all hurdled into trains for our next home, Hunt, Idaho.

We spent our time with friends with whom we had mingled only occasionally. I feel our family life was lost during those crucial years of growing up. There was no congeniality and no conversation among my brothers and myself because each went our own way. There was no closeness among our peer groups.

Except for my parents, we all found some kind of occupation. Since I had two years of junior college I as employed as a teacher of third graders in math, English, writing, spelling, and reading. Our classes were held in the morning in the large arena. Our desks were the benches. Books and supplies were furnished to us by the Portland Public Schools.

This work was very challenging for me. The students were eager to learn and I felt that, in that short time, we were able to accomplish a great deal. I did receive a paycheck of $12 per month. The pay schedule went according to the work performed with the least being $9.

Our social life was limited but we did enjoy dancing to the big bands through recorded music. Occasionally movies were shown. Our treats were fried chicken orders brought in by a chicken specialty circle of friends. I had been dating Nug and so I did spend a great deal of time with him and his friends.

In September we were transferred to Hunt, Idaho, at the Minidoka Relocation Center which was a permanent place. It resembled an army camp built on the specifications of row after row of khaki-colored barracks with a center mess hall, laundry and lavatory facilities. It was located in barren, sagebrush country. When we arrived it was so hot and windy. It did not appeal to me as a place I wanted to spend the rest of the war days.

Notice was soon given that anyone with a prospective job or school, could, upon approved application and investigation, be permitted to leave. My first ambition was to further my education, but since my parents did not approve of this, I looked for a job close by. I was able to obtain a job in Preston, Idaho, as a "nanny" caring for twin girls. They were living with their grandmother while their parents traveled. The travel time was required because he was manager of the Utah-Idaho sugar beet industry. I spent from December of 1942 to May of 1943 with them.

Nug was working as a farm laborer topping sugar beets and other odd farm jobs in Caldwell, Idaho. Since marriage was in our plans, he rented a cabin in a farm labor camp where my parents could come to spend the summer working on farms nearby. They returned to Minidoka in December of 1943. Nug and I were married on December 15th at the Minidoka Recreation Hall.

We lived at the Caldwell Labor Camp picking up all types of jobs. In the winter months we picked chicken feathers and summer months we were both able to pick peas and top onions. Nug worked for Mr. Button as a handyman and so he was employed all the year around.

In May of 1945 Nug was called to active duty and told to report to Fort Douglas, Utah. But, after 15 days, V-J was declared and the war was over. He was released to return home.

At the time of our evacuation, I was very bitter. The only country we knew evicted us from our homes and our businesses. When the controversy of evacuation began to emerge I was of the opinion that my alien folks and minor brothers would be interned. But, never did I think I would be involved since I had reached adulthood. But, my dad said "Shikata Ga Nai" (There is nothing we can do, so make the best of it.) That was his philosophy.