Soon after, in March, came the announcement that those Issei who wished to voluntarily evacuate inland could do so. The coast was considered off-limits for us. Mama-san could not understand why some would be permitted to voluntarily evacuate while others would be sent to “relocation“ camps. My brother, whose in-laws decided to “self”-evacuate, suggested that we go along. Mama-san wanted to go to camp because she could not see half of the Issei and Nisei free and the other half in camps. However, she agreed to evacuate inland with the other relatives.
My brother Toshi, his wife Harue, my older sister Yuki, and I were given deferments and allowed to stay in the Bay Area in order to wind up business affairs for our employers. When it came time to join the families in the small town of Del Rey, about 14 miles southeast of Fresno, my sister and I were allowed to do so, but my brother and his wife were told they were now a separate family and thus, were sent to an assembly center. This made no sense at all because my sister-in-law was working for the Immigration Department and had originally been delayed by the government to complete their work! (As it turned out we joined them in camp sooner than we had expected.) We sold our car at a great loss, stored very little, and gave away most of our belongings. We carried with us only the bare necessities, bedding, towels, pans, and dishes.
When we arrived at Del Rey, we found two or three families living together in a small house. It was very difficult for each person to adjust to so many personalities, particularly the young with the old. Since we could not find work, we played cards, listened to the radio or chatted until 5 or 6 am. But the older folks were just getting out of bed at that hour. No wonder there was so much friction! A generation gap then?
We had only been in the area for two months when those who lived inland were ordered to the assembly center. Mama-san had been right! We were being sent to camp after all.
(To be continued. This is Part 2 of Iso’s memoir. To read Part 1, click The Life Interrupted.
To read Part 3, click Tanforan, Topaz and Beyond.)
About the contributor: Iso Minamoto Umeki was born in Oakland, CA in May 1919, the third of five children. Her parents operated a laundry business, but later moved to San Leandro to open a general store. The family was incarcerated at Tanforan Race Track and then transferred to Topaz Concentration Camp in 1942. Iso married Kaoru Umeki in the dining hall at the Topaz Camp in 1942. After being released, she and Kaoru briefly lived in Salt Lake City, UT, where their first son Bryan was born, and then returned to California and raised their three children in Berkeley. Iso worked as a secretary for the Berkeley School District for 32 years until she retired at age 70. Her husband Kaoru worked for his uncle’s nursery in Union City until he died at age 59. Iso passed away in 1996 in Berkeley, CA.
Excerpted with edits from Iso Umeki’s memoir, written in 1968 and 1970. © 1970, Iso Umeki. All rights reserved.
I think that this story can teach others about false or true myths or rumors
Thanks for your comment! Can you imagine what it was like to have to make life-changing decisions based on rumors? In this case, it was actually more than rumor–it was hastily-concocted government policies that changed constantly and created chaos. Unfortunately, the same thing is happening today. So I hope stories like these will encourage people in positions of power to understand the consequences of their actions and act in a more considered, responsible, and humane way. (And to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.)
What do you think we can do to hold the government to that standard?