Our unit seemed miles away from the mess hall, and carrying our metal utensils three times a day and looking forward to having stew every night for dinner became a bore. Food stamps were issued on the outside and we were supposed to have been counted in on the allocation, but the food dispensed became miserable and there were several outbreaks of diarrhea in the whole center. Protests were made to the administration of the foul, spoiled food and the rumor was spread that the buyers of the food within the administration were blackmarketing the food on the outside.
There were 10 relocation centers set up in the interior deserts or marshes; two in Arizona, two in Arkansas, two in California, one in Colorado, one in Idaho, one in Utah, and one in Wyoming. Our next move was to Topaz, Utah and we were the last contingent to leave Tanforan as we were the “clean up“ crew. Also, the sick had to be cared for, so those connected with the infirmary remained until the last.
Our relatives who had gone to Del Rey were moved to the hot, arid desert area of Gila, Arizona, but my husband’s mother and family were able to re-join us after many consultations with the authorities.
Note: This is the second part of Harue Minamoto’s memoir, with minor edits. Read parts 1-5:
Part 1: Forced Removal
Part 3: First Winter in Topaz
Part 4: Dust-up in the Desert
Part 5: The Aftermath
About the contributor: Harue Hirai Minamoto was born in Oakland, CA in 1916. A graduate of Oakland Technical High School, she completed bookkeeping and secretarial courses at Merritt Business School and was hired by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services in 1937. After Executive Order 9066 was issued, she was forced to resign. She married Toshiro Minamoto in February 1942, shortly before they were incarcerated in Tanforan. Two of her three children were born in Topaz. Sponsored by a Quaker family, the Minamotos resettled in Philadelphia in 1944; but when Tosh was drafted in 1945, Harue and the children returned to Oakland. Harue often spoke of the injustices of incarceration to her children and grandchildren and never hesitated to inform others of what EO 9066 did to American citizens. She passed away in 1999. Her story was shared with us by her family: Melyssa Minamoto, Gay Kaplan, John Minamoto, Ed Minamoto and their children.
Copyright 1999, Harue Minamoto. All rights reserved.