Partial Transcript: Sam discusses his friends' reactions to Pearl Harbor. By the third or fourth day, his friends are back to normal and do not blame him anymore. Sam's Issei parents did not express their concerns about Pearl Harbor to Sam. However, he felt they were scared. He recalls his parents burning items connected with Japan one evening.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; friendship; high school; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Sam discusses his opinion on Japanese American identity and Executive Order 9066 (EO9066). Sam felt the evacuation was an excuse because the government was afraid the Japanese Americans might do something harmful. The government also required all guns and weapons to be turned in. Sam and his family prepare for evacuation and pack two duffel bags. Sam packs some clothes and toys.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; forced removal; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: The only items Sam wished he could take with him to camp were his baseball items. Sam's parents tried to sell their belongings but left a lot of possessions behind. Sam recalls a lot of buyers came to the neighborhood looking for low price items to buy. He discusses a grand piano sold for five dollars. Sam is a junior in high school when they are getting ready to go to the assembly center. He was concerned about graduating high school and his future.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Assembly Centers; Executive Order 9066; forced removal; high school; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Sam and his family go to Puyallup Assembly Center (a county fair grounds). They live in a horse stall for three months before going to Minidoka. For three months, Sam and the other youth stayed busy with card games and baseball. Sam says there were volunteers to help with various jobs around the assembly center.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; children; forced removal; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Minidoka; Nisei; social activities; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: There were 12,000 Japanese Americans at Puyallup. Puyallup was not built for that large amount of people for that long period. Sam discusses the plumbing system started to fall apart and the living conditions. There is no privacy living in the horse stalls. The living arrangements were only supposed to be a short time. However, they stayed longer. The farmers were benefiting from the Assembly Center by selling hay weekly.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Assembly Centers; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; Puyallup; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Sam is sent as part of the advance crew to help with the setup of Minidoka, ID. At Minidoka, there is nothing but sage and jackrabbits. The weather is hot and dry. Sam and the advance crew had to place the barbed wire around the camp. Sam describes barbed wire and its usage. Before arriving at Minidoka, there was a guard tower and barracks built. The barracks have no insulation, and the room gets cold in the winter. Sam explains why he called the barracks a tar paper shack.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; barracks; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In Minidoka, ID, there was limited privacy living in the barracks. Sam says the privacy was better than at Puyallup Assembly Center. Sam and his family shared space in the barracks. He describes the arrangement made for the four family members living together. At each block, there was a mess hall, laundry room, and communal shower rooms. The family dynamic changed at camp. Sam discusses the shift in authority his father has over the family.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Assembly Centers; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; Puyallup; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: One of the core values of Asian culture is being family oriented. If one thing happens to a family member, it affects the whole family. When the Japanese Americans went to camp, the family unit was gone. After a year, churches were able to come to camp. Sam recalls Reverend Anderson and his devotion to the Japanese Americans at Minidoka. Reverend Anderson and his family move to Twin Falls to be near Minidoka.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interment camp; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Minidoka; Nisei; social activities

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Sam says Reverend Anderson did not want to give up on the Japanese American Community. Reverend Anderson stayed until when the Japanese Americans could leave Minidoka.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; World War Two

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