Chet and the Prisoners - 11

Toyo

3 April

Today is pay day and at 10.30 I received compensation for my labors. After lunch I listened to the news. As a replacement for Mr. Wada, I reported for a work assignment. The task involved the spreading of sand and gravel over the snow to lay a path for a walkway.

It is fun to know that our financial common sense has had an effect on the Germans. A group of them, some previous members of international banking agencies, have decided that they would like to merge with us to have the stores in common, with an exact cost pattern. The same manager for both stores will oversee, and the profits from both shared.

I watched a movie “A-Haunting We Will Go”until 9 p.m. And then retire for the night.

4 April

I received a telegram that my family will be heading for Owens Valley. Somehow I am angered at the ease with which they are able to move bodies about.

I learned a bit about this place from some who have been in that area. It is a long way from Los Angeles (230 miles) and up in the Sierra Nevada. The camp is called Manzanar War Relocation Center (Manzanar means "apple orchard" in Spanish)

5 April (Easter Sunday)

My fare for breakfast consisted of two eggs, two servings of corn flakes and one apple. For lunch, my fare was approximately one-fifth of a chicken and a salad. My dinner consisted of a heavy, broth-like rice stew of sorts.

Chet has sent 20 brownies which Ann has made as an Easter gift, along with a card, and I share them with everyone in my barracks. They are very good, and I wish I could have kept more back for myself.

The snow accumulates another twelve inches outdoors. Four of us - myself, Iwasaki, Shintani and Goto play cards.

6 April

I was informed that there was a package for me. On opening the package, I
discovered to my dismay that it is not the Red Cross tools that I had ordered. There is a box of chocolates inside. At night, we listened to a Japanese translation of news articles taken from the Newsweek Magazine.

7 April

I busied myself with routine household chores. I laundered some clothes, changed sheets and mademy bed. Mr. Uoho brought me some plaster. I visited the camp store and ordered a new suitcase while shopping for other daily necessities.

8 April

I have had a letter from my wife and she tells me that the Manzanar camp is far from being complete, with most of the buildings just frames, and as she is pregnant and has a young child, they have been sent instead to the one 13 miles away. It is built at Santa Anita Park where there used to be s a horse race track. The racetrack was temporarily shut down and horses were moved in preparation for 19,000 people from California. I will quote her letter.

“We went by bus, and were told to take with us sufficient blankets, bed linen and towels; toilet articles, soap, comb and mirror; adequate clothing; knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls, cups; other small incidental property which can be carried easily. We are assigned
to do community maintenance work which will help to bring about a well organized, unified assembly center. Row after row where what used to be horse stalls have had a room built on the front, covered with tar paper, with doors and windows, and the floors have been covered with a layer of asphalt which hasn't quite killed the odors. There are seven districts and several mess halls, a hospital, stores, a post office, classrooms and makeshift churches. We were each given an Army bed, one blanket and one straw tick, The racetrack is surrounded by two layers of barbed wire. Most people are
kept busy by making camouflage netting to cover the outside of the racetrack. which pays $8 a month. There are also softball games, sumo wrestling matches and new friendships.”

10 April

I go to No. 10 to listen to the news broadcast. At 1:30 PM, Mr. Kenkichiro Uchida is taken to the hospital due to a light stroke. I have a haircut and do some shopping.

11 April

I write more letters, I go to the post office to pick up my shoes which I have ordered from Sears Roebuck. To my dismay, I discover that the heels to my pair of shoes are missing. I wash my clothes bag. From 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, we listen to an interpretation of the news and world events.