Many of the elderly people did not want to leave, since they felt somewhat secure in camp with less responsibilities. By mid-1945 the make-up of the camp population probably was families with younger school-age children and the elderly. The diminishing population caused some blocks to close their mess halls and one block would combine with another to serve the meals in one place.
During my last summer in camp, I had surgery for appendicitis. Groups of friends would come to visit at the hospital where I was recuperating and tell me to hurry and get out so I could join them in the softball games. I’d kid them that the only reason they were anxious to come to the hospital every day was to visit with the nurses. There were many young girls working as nurse’s aides. This was just an example of how boring it could get so it was a way to fill in the time of day with something to do. Going for walks after work was probably better than to be confined in a room and being depressed with doubts about the future.
Another example was to go to the main gate on certain days when groups would be leaving camp. Even if we didn’t know the people very well it became somewhat of a ritual just to go to the gate and wave goodbye. Perhaps we all felt that someday our turn would come to say farewell to the camp life.
About the contributor: Steve Fujioka was born and raised in Lincoln, California. He graduated from high school in Topaz, and joined the U.S. Army. Upon completing his service, he went on to study at Placer College and then UC Berkeley, where he received his bachelor’s degree in architecture. He worked as an architect in Sacramento, designing both public and private buildings throughout central California, including the Placer Buddhist Church. In the 1960s, he and his wife, Marjorie, moved to Berkeley, California, where they raised their two children. In the 1970s, he changed careers to facilities management and went to work for the university, where he was awarded the Berkeley Citation for distinguished achievement in 1991. After retirement, he enjoyed reading, traveling with his wife, helping friends and family remodel their homes, and spending time with his grandchildren. He passed away in 2015.
Excerpted with edits from “Confinement: The Difficult Years,” a memoir by Steve Fujioka. © 2006, Steve Fujkioka. Courtesy of Marjorie Fujioka.