“My sister-in-law, Michi, was so pregnant that she kept jumping up on the bus to San Bruno, hoping she wouldn’t lose the baby.”
I remember leaving San Leandro from the Hayward Library departure point on May 8, 1942. The date stands out because my birthday is on May 2. I had just turned 15.
My sister-in-law, Michi, was so pregnant that she kept jumping up on the bus to San Bruno, hoping she wouldn’t lose the baby. Judith Naruo, born days later, was the first baby born in Tanforan.
My sister and brother-in-law were scheduled to leave Tanforan for Topaz in early September as part of a work detail that would help construct barracks there. Mary was expecting a baby any day and was afraid she might be left behind if her baby wasn’t born by the time she and George had to board the train to Utah. So she drank castor oil to induce labor. It must have worked—Dianne Fukushima turned out to be one of the last babies born in Tanforan!
About the contributor: Before the family’s removal to Tanforan and later Topaz, the Naruo family had a chicken ranch in Castro Valley; then Ruth Naruo Saito Hara’s brother Bob started a nursery in San Leandro. After the Exclusion order was lifted in 1945, the family returned to San Leandro to reclaim their property. This story was contributed by Ruth’s son, Sam Saito.
Copyright 2012, Ruth Naruo Saito Hara. All rights reserved.
I am Judith Naruo Jue. So crazy! I just happened to open the Topaz Email. Saw this one when my mom was pregnant with me. Didn’t realize she had me so soon after arriving at the Tanforan race track. Told by my aunt Ruth. And son Sam Saito. I am now 80 years old.
Hi Judy! So good to hear from you! Have you visited the Tanforan Memorial in San Bruno?
We’re so glad your aunt shared this story with us!
Best,
Ruth Sasaki