1 The Riot at Santa Anita Assembly CenterJapanese arriving by taxi at Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with searches. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times. The Riot at Santa Anita Assembly Center The Road to a Riot By: Linda Rose
2 The following twenty four slides include photographs taken by Los Angeles Times staff photographers. They begin with haunting images of a group of people suddenly homeless. They sit and stand surrounded by the meager belongings they were allowed to carry with them as they went from being residents to becoming prisoners. The next set of photos shows the hasty building of the Santa Anita Assembly Center where they waited to be transferred to permanent internment camps. Following the building of the camp the photos focus on the prisoners’ arrival at the unwelcoming place that would be their home for the next several months. Within the converted horse stalls that reeked of urine and the quickly built barracks there was an abundance of overcrowding and a distinct lack of privacy. The quotes that accompany the pictures are taken from letters and testimonies. The letters were written by young people within the camp. They were sent to their friend, Miss Clara Breed, who was their librarian back home in San Diego. She sent books and other little gifts to her young friends and helped them in other ways while they were incarcerated. The interviews come from the Densho Digital Archive and from the book Dear Miss Breed by Joanne Oppenheim. LOS ANGELES TIMES PHOTOGRAPHS PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Los Angeles Times staff photographers Andrew Hugh Arnott, Horton Churchill, Gordon Wallace, and Wayne B. Cave/ Los Angeles Times.
3 Interviewer: Now, going back to Pearl Harbor, now, when you heard the Japanese Americans would have to go into camp, how did you feel? TI: Well, I was so young, it really didn’t hit me, but it certainly concerned my parents. And I remember going, walking down to the corner to see that 90…what is it? 9066 order, and my father reading it and saying, “My goodness, we have to take all these bedding,” and so on and so forth. And then he said to my mother, “You take Toshiko down and buy yourself a pair of boots and one for Toshiko, too.” So we went down and bought ourselves boots because my father surmised that we would be sent to someplace that would be very cold and snowy, and it certainly turned to be true. Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Toshi Nagamori Ito Interview Laguna Woods, California November 9, 2010 Densho ID denshovh-itoshi-01 Segment 13 Japanese gather near Vermont Avenue and 23rd Street to register at civil control station before proceeding to Santa Anita Assembly Center. Gordon Wallace, Los Angeles Times.
4 “As I passed my high school, I saw the American flag waving in the wind, and my emotions were in turmoil. I thought of the prize- winning essay that I had written for my English class titled “Why I am Proud to be an American.” Sally Kirita Tsuneishi, Testimony given in Los Angeles, August 4, 1981 Japanese wait near Vermont Avenue and 23rd Street. Gordon Wallace, Los Angeles Times.
5 Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Interviewer: So tell us when the war started, then, what happened that day. Can you remember? MH: You know, we had to sell all kind of things because they can’t take anything. And then how long we have to be in the camp, we can’t tell. Everybody sold everything, but American people at that time, I don’t know where they came from, but quite rude, not really wanted to buy piano like that. Came with little children and about six or seven years old girl, “I like this piano.” And then her father said, “Okay.” And then, “Sell me,” so I said, “No, I want to take to, with my husband’s equipment. Piano is store at the Bekins.” And then a hour later he came with a moving truck, mover brought, and took the piano and then left the 25 dollar. Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Mutsu Homma Interview Seattle, Washington August 27, 1997 Segment 19 Japanese gather near Vermont Avenue and 23rd Street before leaving for a temporary internment camp at Santa Anita racetrack. Gordon Wallace, Los Angeles Times.
6 “When we got on the bus and started for Bakersfield it was about 4 o’clock in the morning. When we were on the outskirts of Delano I saw my pink stucco house and my white dog sitting lonely in front of the house waiting for us to come home.” Yoshi Watanabe, ninth grade. Oppenheim, Joanne, Dear Miss Breed, p 50. Buses line the street at 23rd Street and Vermont Avenue, waiting for a group of 600 Japanese to be moved to the temporary internment camp at Santa Anita Assembly Center. This photo was published in the May 1, 1942 Los Angeles Times. Gordon Wallace, Los Angeles Times.
7 “The pre-relocation days were very confusing for me“The pre-relocation days were very confusing for me. One of my best friends was Carmella, a second generation Italian American. When I asked my parents, why didn’t Carmella have to be evacuated since Italy was at war with the United States, they replied, Carmella is Caucasian, she doesn’t look like the enemy, she doesn’t look different like we do. Even at age nine I realized that some how democracy, my situation, and Carmella didn’t make sense.” Testimony of Bebe Reschke, Los Angeles, August 6, 1981 (Oppenheim, Joanne, Dear Miss Breed, p 48). Mary Nakahara (sic) of San Pedro says goodbye to Sunday school classmates Marie Mardesich, left, Dorothy Harley, and Arjan Newcomer, right. Nakamura and her family drove their car, part of a caravan, to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. Wayne B. Cave, Los Angeles Times.
8 Construction workers assemble pre-fabricated sections of buildings during construction of Santa Anita Assembly Center. This photo was published in the March 24, Los Angeles Times. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times. Construction workers unload pre-fabricated sections of frame dwellings to be built at Santa Anita racetrack. The grandstands are in the background. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
9 March 23, 1942: Construction workers assemble pre- fabricated sections of buildings at Santa Anita race track during construction of assembly center for Japanese- Americans. About 19,000 Japanese stayed at Santa Anita before being transferred to inland camps. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times. Construction workers assemble pre-fabricated sections of buildings at Santa Anita racetrack. This photo was published in the March 24, 1942 Los Angeles Times. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
10 Construction workers assemble pre-fabricated sections of buildings at Santa Anita racetrack. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
11 “We finally gathered enough wood to make a few tables and chairs“We finally gathered enough wood to make a few tables and chairs. After looking at the results I thought of the primitive people who did what we did today. But bitter feelings do not enter my head because I know we were sent to Santa Anita Assembly Center for our own protection. I am grateful to the Govt. for gathering us in such a nice place. If I am helping the Govt. by staying here, I am glad. I want so much to be of some use to the Govt.” Letter to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Arcadia, California, April 23, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum The Santa Anita racetrack is converted into temporary camp for evacuated Japanese. A similar photo by a staff photographer was published in the April 4, Los Angeles Times. Associated Press.
12 Japanese arriving on a Pacific Electric train at the Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with police, soldiers and media photographers. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
13 “ Dear Miss Breed, Yesterday marks my first year in camp“ Dear Miss Breed, Yesterday marks my first year in camp. Time certainly flies! As I sit listening to my history teacher, Miss Warvarovsky, talking about the problems of today, a tidal wave of memories came rushing before my eyes. That feeling of sorrow and the emptiness of my tummy comes back to me every time I think of how I left San Diego. I shall never forget how I spent that night of April 7th sleeping on the train. My sister and I stuck our heads out the window never peeling our eyes off the direction of our home. We filled our eyes with the sight of San Diego to the limit until my pupils gave in and I dozed off.” Letter to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Poston, Arizona, April 9, 1943 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Japanese arriving on a Pacific Electric train at the Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with police and soldiers. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
14 “So when they said it was for our purpose and went into camp, went into Santa Anita, I could see the barbed wire fence. I could see the guard towers, and I noticed the guard towers had MPs in them with guns pointing at us, inside, not outside. That didn’t mesh with protecting us. I realized then they were not protecting us but to keep us incarcerated.” Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Min Tonai Interview II Los Angeles California July 18, 2011 ID denshovh-tmin-02 Segment Two Japanese arriving on a Pacific Electric train at the Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with police and soldiers. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
15 Japanese arriving at Santa Anita Assembly Center are searchedJapanese arriving at Santa Anita Assembly Center are searched. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
16 “I woke up on the day we were leaving but I needed to ride to town to buy a jacket. There was no way of knowing where we were going— only that it might be cold. So, I raced to town and back on my bike. When I returned the buses were there. My family was already on the bus. I was a 12 year old boy at that time, and I guess that bike was my most prized possession! But I had to leave it behind. I still remember how hard it was to leave that bike of mine… there were two other bikes just lying on the ground with mine as the bus pulled away. It’s a shame—we could have used those bikes in camp!” Its Endo, (Oppenheim, Joanne, Dear Miss Breed, p 51) Japanese arriving on Pacific Electric train at Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with police, soldiers and searches. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times
17 Japanese are searched at Santa Anita Assembly CenterJapanese are searched at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times
18 “Today marks my first full day of camp life“Today marks my first full day of camp life. Oh, how busy we were--hurrying and scurrying about--making the beds, sweeping the asphalt floor, running back and forth getting scraps of wood. Oh my! What a busy day that was. When I awoke this morning one year ago, I looked up at the ceiling and a funny strange feeling came over me. I knew I was not at home and had a terrible yearning to go home. A little boy next door was crying asking his mother to take him home. That day I felt so lost I was as blue as the deep blue sea. But the sight of a friend certainly cheered me up even though it was just for the moment I saw her. Today that homesickness still is within me but that lost feeling has disappeared. I often wonder how I have changed in thought, actions, knowledge, and facial and physical features during the short memorable one year.” Letter to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Poston, Arizona, April 9, 1943 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum A Japanese father puts identification buttons on his sons at Santa Anita Assembly Center. The Times reported 1,000 new Japanese arrived at the center on that day. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
19 “We've moved again. This makes the third time we've moved inside this camp. We're now in smaller rooms. We no longer live in the stables, but in regulation army barracks. The only difference is that these barracks originally had three large rooms, now they have been partitioned into six rooms: three large ones and three small ones. We live in one of the smaller ones since there are only three of us. The room is ideal for two, but is rather crowded with three. We have one large shower and one large laundry room. We certainly don't see how they expect over 16,000 people to be clean and also have their clothes clean. Many of the women get up about 5 a.m. and go to wash. If you try to go about 8 a.m. you're bound to have to wait a good hour or more.” Letter to Clara Breed from Fusa Tsumagari, Arcadia, California, May 22, 1942 Tsumagari, Fusa Description 1 letter and envelope from Fusa Tsumagari to Clara Breed. A Japanese family at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
20 “And when we got there, I was so glad that we were one of the later ones to get there, so we were able to live in a barrack room instead of a stable. …And they were brand-spanking new, and they used green lumber to build them, so while we were there, the boards all shrank and even the boards in the floor shrank, and we could see below the floor and we could see our neighbors through the cracks. So finally my father tacked up a sheet on the side that the other family stayed.” Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Toshi Nagamori Ito Interview Laguna Woods, California November 9, 2010 Densho ID denshovh-itoshi-01 Segment 14 A Japanese family poses for Times photographer at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
21 “Well, you know, it was kind of a sad event“Well, you know, it was kind of a sad event. We lost everything we had, and we were going to lose our freedom. I mean, we became instant POWs, we got captured by the GIs. And when I got into Santa Anita, I’m lying there on this cot with a straw mattress, and I’m thinking, “You know, I though the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were supposed to guarantee our civil rights.” And I was really puzzled. What am I doing in a concentration camp? And even today, when I see the word Constitution or Bill of Rights, it reminds me of a concentration camp. It seems like a strange combination there, but that’s the way it was.” Densho Digital Archive Raechel Donahue and Garrett Lindemann Collection Nobu Shimokochi Interview 2010 Densho ID: denshovh-snobu_2-01 Segment Three Hay is stuffed into bags to make temporary mattresses at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
22 “Yeah, but when we were in Santa Anita, we used to stand in the hot sun waiting our turn to get into the mess hall, and it was hot.” Densho Digital Archive Raechel Donahue and Garrett Lindemann Collection Nobu Shimokochi Interview 2010 Densho ID: denshovh-snobu_2-01 Segment Four Food is served at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
23 Mrs. Tsuneko Fujimoto with son Edward, second baby to be born at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. This photo was published in the Sept. 26, 1942 Los Angeles Times. Horton Churchill. Los Angeles Times.
24 “Another announcement just came out stating the fact that we cannot receive any perishable or non perishable food here. The only thing we can bring in from the outside is candy. Gee, that really makes me mad. On top of that, the Canteen has stopped selling cookies, sandwiches, cakes and all sorts of sweets except candy. We have all come to the conclusion that the mess halls will have to serve us better food. Gee, I like stew, but I don't like to eat it three meals in succession. Gee, I always get onto the subject of food-----well, don't blame me too much as it is about the only thing we think about.” Letter to Clara Breed from Fusa Tsumagari, Arcadia, California, May 22, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Japanese at Santa Anita Assembly Center during internment. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
25 “I received a doctor's order so I am allowed to have milk with my meals. The food here is about the same as the food at the county hospital with the exception of less meat here. Now that we have a number of San Diego men working in the kitchens the food has improved quite a bit, especially with the salads. I have heard that we are to receive meat soon, but I think that it will be mostly stew because we are not allowed knives, just a spoon and fork as eating utensils.” Letter to Clara Breed from Tetsuzo (Ted) Hirasaki, Arcadia, California, April 13, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Japanese at Santa Anita Assembly Center during internment. Andrew Hugh Arnott, Los Angeles Times.
26 “Dear Miss Breed, Thank you kindly for your letter and the post-cards“Dear Miss Breed, Thank you kindly for your letter and the post-cards. I guess you were surprised that we were still in San Diego till 1:00 a.m. Wed. morn. Trying to sleep on the train was very difficult. On the whole trip I only slept 2 hrs. We reached Santa Anita 10: a.m. I am leaving (sic) in a 4-room house which is very plain. Around 11 houses compose a barrack--1 house has 2 rooms. Ours has 4 rooms since we have 2 houses. There are plenty of room for children to play. Recreation programs have been established. Yes there are churches but no schools yet. We San Diegans eat in a cafeteria style in a place. The service is excellent. They serve 2,000 people in 20 min. There are many S. D. waiters and waiteress (sic) working there.” Postcard to Clara Breed from Margaret Arakawa, Arcadia, California, April 14, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Before departing for Rohwer, Arkansas, Japanese internees get breakfast in the Santa Anita Assembly Center mess hall. This photo was published in the Sept. 26, 1942 Los Angeles Times. Horton Churchill, Los Angeles Times.
27 The following eight slides contain letters from the Clara Breed Collection at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The selected letters were written by young people at the Santa Anita Assembly Center and contain references to the riot that occurred in the camp on August 4, 1942.
28 “Dear Miss McNary, It was my intention to write to you on the same day I wrote to Miss Breed, but a mob riot developed and caused all suspension of work. Before I tell you about it I want to thank you for sending me the candy and also for lending me your shorthand book. At the present time my shorthand is at a standstill, but as we may move soon, I hope to resume my lessons in the winter. Though we don't know where we will be moving we expect to be snowbound in the winter. At any rate, it certainly will be much colder than San Diego. On Wednesday, the army (not from Frisco, though) ordered our barracks searched for contraband. Previous to this whenever such an order was issued we were given bulletins and notified on everything. This, however, was done abruptly with no reason given and did not give the people a very good attitude toward the search. Then, they closed certain gates and would not allow the people to pass unless they were searched. This, too, aroused their anger. Then, to top that, they began to confiscate such things as scissors and knitting needles as contraband. Then, some of the police had the nerve to steal people's money and also remove things from people's houses without allowing the occupant to see what was taken. One policeman in particular aroused the people to such a degree that they began to mob him. Incidentally a Korean was leading the men in their raid. Many people had grievances against him before as he was claimed to be a "stool pidgeon“ (sic). Unfortunately the mob of people were so aroused that they chased him and beat him with chairs. This was wrong, but a mad mob is very hard to control. Incidentally this led to the discovery of liquor smuggling and jailing of some of the stewards of the mess hall. The army took control for three days and everything was at a standstill. We and also the army were glad they finally moved out. The newspapers did not give this version, but that's the way we saw it. Just a few days before the incident we were all craving for excitement, but now that it is over we are glad that it is over. Once again thank you for the candy and book. If you have time, please write to me sometime. Sincerely, Fusa Tsumagari” 1 letter and envelope from Fusa Tsumagari to Helen McNary. Transcription: Dear Miss Breed Collection August 9, 1942 /Santa Anita Assembly Center , District 5 F-27-5, Arcadia, California . All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum
29 “Dear Miss Breed, / I know that I do not know you personally; however, I am sure that you, like your sister Clara Breed must be an individual with great understanding judging from the type of work that you are engaged in today. Your sister has been very good to my mother and sister in many ways and at various occasions. I should like to add here that her thoughtfulness has been quite a boost morally for each of them. You may be sure that her generosity and graciousness has created a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude. / Camp life here in Santa Anita is very complete in the sense of organization. The camp has been divided into various districts from one to seven in order to facilitate the housing and feeding of all the evacuees. Each district has a mess hall which is identified by a shade of color. Each mess hall has a seating capacity of approximately fifteen hundred. Post offices, toilet facilities are distributed through the camp. There is one main Hospital in camp equipped with surgical & medication to care for the sick. / For the sake of maintenance of mental pacificitym there are several very well organized departments. The recreational, education departments are the two largest and most active departments in camp. The primary purpose of both departments is to keep both adult + children occupied mentally or physically in some fashion. The recreational department have numerous baseball, softball, wrestling, weight lifting leagues + contests; clubs of all sort including boy + girl scoutings, sewing, knitting classes and even dancing + art classes. In the education department, with what facilities they have, there is organized school for adult and children from the first to the seventh grade. The school is on a pure voluntary basis, that is on the part of the students. (continued on next slide)
30 There is a library made of books accumulated by various clubsThere is a library made of books accumulated by various clubs. Books have been donated by various libraries and individuals from the outside. Although the camp may seem complete in various ways, there are many disadvantages as you can readily see. Discontent with present conditions has been the root for many disorders lately. The "kicks" so called have been directed at the administration not as individuals but for the general policy enforced by them. Today, the spark lighted the fuse which exploded into a fury of violence. For the first time the camp actually experienced mob violence. This outbreak all started by the searching of each unit by armed men of all personal belongings with utter disrespect for individual involved. Uncouth treatment of individuals plus theft by those making the investigation created a frenzy in camp. Huge mob of infuriated people gathered to ask for the reason of such doings. Frightened by the large crowd and excited by pointed questions directed to him, the investigator drew his gun and threatened to shoot anyone who might molest him. This threat lit the fuse which angered the crowd to the extent that flying fists were not in the least uncommon. The investigator was not hurt physically however I do believe that there was some change of attitude of this gentleman. Another man was hurt from this outbreak. There has been a drastic shack-up (sic) in the administration. I hope you will not enter this letter into any round-robin letter. I should like this letter be written to your personally. This letter is extremely long + boring. I hope you will say hello to your precious sister. Until we may meet I remain Very truly yours. Yukio Tsumagari My present address is: Mr. Yukio Tsumagari Dist. 5, Ave F, Bar. 27, Unit 5 Santa Anita Assembly Center Arcadia, California Description: 1 letter from Yukio Tsumagari to Clara Breed's sister, Eleanor. Based on this letter it can be assumed that Eleanor prepared exerpts of letters written to the Berkeley International House by students and alumni of UC Berkeley who were interned. See GC and GF. Transcription. All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum
31 “Dear Miss Breed, Florence and I want to thank you for the lovely books. We are most grateful. Now I may go up in a plane with Nancy Naylor and enjoy the thrill of the air. Florence was more than pleased to receive the book about the Eskimo boy which she showed to my baby brother, who laughed with glee at the pictures. I borrowed the book, "Singing Sisters" which you sent to Louise and lived every moment with the Carey's. It certainly was a true to life story. Did Tets write to you about the riot some weeks ago. It surely was an exciting day for all, but pitiful for the persons involved in the fight. There were soldiers guarding the seven post offices in the center and it was interesting to watch them preform (sic) their duties. We live right in front of a post office so we were certainly protected just in case. Everyone in this center is going to get winter clothing from the government which is causing much excitement throughout the camp. We are ordering them from Sears, Roebuck and Co. and certainly are thankful. Each family gets a list of items with only certain nos. from the catalogue with a limited amount. We are very thankful for what the government is doing for us. We are going to a relocation center soon but wherever I may be I shall never forget your kindness and all the pleasure you have given to me and Florence through your books. Please give my regards to Miss McNary. Sincerely yours, Florence and Margaret Ishino P/S. Florence is just beginning to learn to write her name. She attends schools on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.” Description 1 letter and envelope from Margaret Ishino written to Clara Breed. Transcription. August 18, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum
32 “Dear Miss Breed, Guess who“Dear Miss Breed, Guess who? Yup it's ole unreliable again, none other than yours truly, Tetsuzo. Gosh the wind's been blowing all night and all morning. Kinda threatening to blow the roofs down. Dust is all over the place. Gives everything a coating of fine dust. It seems that there were some last minute changes concerning Mrs. Lila MacArthur's visit. The fellows that she was going to visit left camp to go to the sugar beet fields, so that the trip here was called off. Maybe when the fellows get back she will make the trip. I don't know much about her except that she is a cousin of some sort to Gen. MacArthur. She has been a bookkeeper for a produce house (Greenman & Sons) for quite a long time. That was where she became acquainted with Japanese She is the mother of one of my classmates in S. D. High School. She used to come to Santa Anita almost every week end to visit the boys that used to know her in S.D. Thanks for the news of Mr. Campione. There are many people, who worked and lived in Coronado, here so they were interested in that item. Many knew him personally and were sad to hear that he had been drowned. Heard from dad about a week ago. It seems that there is a possibility that many of the internees are to be released sometime close to Christmas (that's what the rumors have it). Almost everyone who has someone in an internment camp believe that his someone is the one coming home. At any rate the Alien Enemy Control at Washington is considering to allow the families to join the husbands in the internment camp. Many of us have written Edward J. Ennis, Director of the Alien Enemy Control unit asking that it be the other way around. --Yes Fusa's dad is still interned. I am still working in the mess hall. Brrr to have to get up early in the morning. It is around 38 in the morning and at the middle part of the afternoon it is around 80+. The mornings don't warm up until just about noontime. My arm is all right. Not near so strong as at Santa Anita because I don't do any loading or unloading of supplies. Have been doing a little carpentry as many of us here have no furniture other than cots. (continued)
33 Haven't got much made here in my own aptHaven't got much made here in my own apt. as most of my work is over where the menfolk have left for the sugar beet fields or where there just ain't no menfolk. The food has been all right except for quantity. We still have trouble with the warehouse transportation system. Also transportation on the outside to bring food all the way from the Coast here to Poston is limited. The medical situation here is pitiful. For that matter in all three camps. The main and the only hospital is at Camp I 15 miles away. Here in Camp III there is one young doctor with not too much experience and one student doctor working in an emergency clinic. They are supposed to take care of approximately 5000 people!!!! and they (the Big shots) wonder why we squawk about inadequate medical attention. With the extremes in temperature a daily occurrence more and more people are coming down with bad colds. If the flu should hit this or any of the other camps----The dental facilities here in Camp III is considered the best because the only dental drill in the three camps is here. The dentists work only half a day because there aren't any tools to work with. The government as yet hasn't sent any equipment to this camp. Many of the dentists are using their own tools without compensation for loss or breakage. No I haven't hiked to the river yet. I'd better do it soon cause there is going to be a fence around this camp!!!!!! 5 strands of barbed wire!!!!!!!!!! They say it's to keep the people out--ha ha ha what people the redskins?? It's also to keep out cattle. Where in the cattle countries do they use 5 strands of barbed wire?? If they don't watch out there's going to be trouble. What do they think we are, fools?? At Santa Anita at the time of the riot the armored cars parked outside of the main gates, pointed the heavy machine guns inside and then the army had the gall to tell us that the purpose of that was to keep the white folks from coming in to mob the Japs. Same thing with the guards on the watch towers. They had their machine guns pointed at us to protect us from the outsiders, hah, hah, hah, I’m laughing yet. (continued)
34 Enough of this before I go out and murder a white man by killing myself. Hah, hah Say what is this, just as I wrote that three bombers came roaring overhead flying so low that the barracks shook. Every now and then the Chinese Air Force who are training some where close to Poston, come zooming down at us here in camp. They must think it’s funny. Some day one of us is going to have a gun----A couple of weeks ago one of the bombers (twin motored Douglas attack bomber) crashed on the other side of the Colorado and burst into flame. It wasn’t right but a lot of us were kinda glad, in a cynical sort of way. God forgive us for the thoughts that are beginning to run amok in our brains. Last week a very good friend of mine got to thinking---and he went crazy. He tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrists. His roommates found him bleeding and immediately gave him first aid. He is still alive, but his face is like that of a wild ape caged for the first time in his life. Gosh I get the chills every time I remember how he looked that morning. I think he was sent to an insane asylum in Los Angeles. Gee, what a morbid letter this turned out to be! I am sending you a few things in appreciation for what you have done for me as well as for my sister and all the rest. The lapel pins are for you, your sister, and Miss McNary. If I remembered correctly Miss McNary’s first name is Helen. If I am wrong you may do what you wish with the pin, but please tell me her name. Also what is your mother’s name? There are three dogs made by Mrs. Umezawa from pipe cleaners. A longer ribbon may be used so that the dog may be pinned to the lapel or blouse. The corsages are for you and your mother. They were made by Mrs. Ohye (Mrs. Umezawa’s daughter). The small roses were made by Mrs. Hirai and Mrs. Kushino and also Jane Kushino (Mrs. Kushino’s 14 yr. old daughter). The chrysanthemum was made by Mrs. Nakamura a very good friend of mine. For that matter they are all good friends of mine. The ‘mum was made from lemon wrappers and crepe paper. (continued)
35 P.S. Have a nice Thanksgiving dinner. TH A word about Mrs. Nakamura. A former dressmaker with plenty of time on her hands. Took up knitting and also learning English and now making flowers. So busy now she has almost no spare time. If it is possible could you send some simple child primers and a grammar book about 7th grade. Your name plate I made from mesquite as are also the lapel pins. However the dark pin is made from a pine know from Santa Anita. The rest are all Poston Products. The evacuation order came just as I was about to send it so it slipped my mind and I thought I had lost it. After all it was the only souvenir from Santa Anita. Aren’t we Japs clever? We are learning to make beautiful things out of ugly scrap, because we are having a hard time to get material like pipe cleaners for dogs, crepe paper for flowers, also soft wire for flowers. We get ugly dead mesquite branches and twigs and turn them into a thing of beauty by attaching paper orange blossoms or cherry blossoms made from Kleenex…I wish you had been able to attend our handicraft fairs here in Poston… Words just can’t describe the beautiful carvings, paintings, knitting crochet work, dress making etc. If only I had a camera you would have at least a rough idea as to what had been made. Very truly yours, Tetsuzo P.S. Have a nice Thanksgiving dinner. TH P.S. Do you think you could send me some Welch’s peanut brittle? TH” Description 1 letter and envelope from Tetsuzo (Ted Hirasaki) to Clara Breed. Transcription: D/Poston, Arizona/November 16, 1942 All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Photo of Gaman Art found at Santa Anita Assembly Center. Shown at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage.
36 The following eighteen slides contain excerpts from interviews from the Densho Visual History Collection within the Densho Digital Archive. The selected segments contain references to the August 4, 1942 riot that occurred at the Santa Anita Assembly Center. The transcriptions contain the original diction from the oral interviews. They reveal the complexity of the feelings and rumors that fueled both the riot and the inmates’ interpretation of what had occurred.
37 Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Title: Mutsu Homma Interview Narrator: Mutsu Homma Interviewers: Dee Goto (primary), Becky Fukuda (secondary) Location: Seattle, Washington Date: August 27, Densho ID: denshovh-hmutsu-01
38 Segment 28: Beginning line 14.…BF: And the Japanese in the stables. DG: Right. MH: They can't live there, Japanese. All the, see, horse race, horse place. DG: Is where they lived? Right. MH: And then the professional people that barrack. So, but could go in there and then... BF: And visit. Or kind of peek in and look around. MH: Yeah. Lots of Mary Pickford's dresses hanging down or something. See, they come and then warm and change clothes and take shower and something like that. DG: Did they visit at all during the time that you were there? MH: No, they didn't come at all, the Japanese are there, but clothes and then those things missing, so later lock the door. But I thought, suspect that's the American people. The officers at Santa Anita is no-job people hired from... six months, two years, some three years, no job. DG: Oh. MH: Those people want some kind of W... BF: WRA? MH: Something that... the people. DG: Because of the Depression. Oh, and they were able to come in and out? MH: They are the officers for us. (continued)
39 MH: They don't investigate anything. That's why Santa Anita riot came. DG: Oh, okay. MH: So they are going all over the place. And then once in a while they check us and then looked at electric cooker. "You can't have this one," and take home. BF: For themselves. MH: Uh-huh. Scissors, "You can't point this. This is dangerous," they take it. Everything. DG: And there was an uprising after that investigation because everybody... MH: They don't investigate anything. That's why Santa Anita riot came. DG: Riot, right. That's what I mean. MH: Japanese people are really disappointed and angry.
40 BF: Like a protest march. MH: Yeah. DG: And so you walked? BF: Like a protest march. MH: Yeah. BF: And they were marching because of the food and the conditions and... MH: It belongs to army, so food comes, very much meat comes to Santa Anita. How many pounds we send. Note comes to Santa Anita. Half are gone before comes Santa Anita. And then the Santa Anita came and then those hakujin people take it. Good part. BF: So officials were taking food that was meant for the residents -- MH: Yes. BF: -- of Santa Anita for themselves, and you could tell from the shipping. MH: That's, they answer. That's why stew have no meat, big onion. BF: No wonder why your husband lost so much weight, no protein. MH: Everybody. BF: Do you remember being scared at all during that march or... MH: No. All the dentists and the doctors together so I'm not scared, but... DG: So the professional people started the riot, kind of thing? MH: No, no. Not that we... DG: But you were together with them. The whole camp -- MH: Yeah, whole camp. DG: -- was protesting? (continued)
41 BF: Did anything come of... did conditions improve after that? MH: Niseis. Some of leaders in Los Angeles people is tough Nisei that time. So those leaders did. BF: Did anything come of... did conditions improve after that? MH: I don't know much. BF: Well, do you think -- did you notice the food got any better or anything like that for yourself? MH: When inspector comes, we, tell us all kinds of leaders like the letter and so forth. Inspector comes, they have meat like that in the stew. BF: But only when the inspector... MH: And stew, onion cut in fours and something like that. Little bit different. BF: So it was a little better, but only when the inspector was around, otherwise same old, same old. MH: Yeah.
42 Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collectiom Title: Toshi Nagamori Ito Interview Narrator: Toshi Nagamori Ito Interviewer: Martha Nakagawa Location: Laguna Woods, California Date: November 9, Densho ID: denshovh-itoshi-01
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44 Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Title: Thomas Shigekuni Interview Narrator: Thomas Shigekuni Interviewer: Martha Nakagawa Location: Los Angeles, California Date: August 31, Densho ID: denshovh-sthomas-01
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46 Densho Digital Archive Densho Visual History Collection Title: Min Tonai Interview II Narrator: Min Tonai Interviewer: Tom Ikeda Location: Los Angeles, California Date: July 18, Densho ID: denshovh-tmin-02
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48 That place would've been just a massive tinderboxThat place would've been just a massive tinderbox. So the authorities said we got to stop that, so they're gonna take, confiscate all of those things that would create the problem 'cause they weren't supposed to be there in the first place. So they started to confiscate, but then they said, well, we're gonna take the food away that people have 'cause you're not supposed to have food in the thing. Mothers have baby, got baby food, and this creates a problem for them, and people with dietary problems. But they didn't think about those things. And then they said that they'd, and then what happened is that they brought the civilian guards. Inside the camp were civilian guards. TI: So these were Caucasian civilian guards? MT: Caucasians, all Caucasians. TI: Okay. MT: And outside were the MPs, who, by the way, patrolled outside the camp, not inside. If they were trying to protect us they should've been inside the camp protecting us, but no, they were outside looking in. And so they were nice, the MPs were nice; they didn't give us a hard time or anything. TI: And were the civilian guards, were they armed in any way? MT: No, they were not. I don't remember them being armed at all. They might've had batons, but other than, they didn't have guns. So they were the ones now coming, and they had a Nisei, or a person of bilingual, could've been something else, that knew Japanese, interpreting for 'em as they went through each barrack room, and in our case every stall room, going through everything, in fact, ransacking rooms, looking for things. And the rumor has it, 'cause I never witnessed this, was that they were now ripping mattresses, cutting mattresses 'cause the Japanese had hidden the money there, cash. The people that were afraid of what's gonna happen in banks and how they're gonna get their money had taken the cash with them and they were hiding it, so they discovered that so they were trying to... because they would ask people to leave the room and they were ransacking. TI: So it sounds like the civilian guards were actually, yeah, again, you said hearsay, but stealing. They were taking valuables, money. (Continued)
49 MT: They were taking advantage of us, starting to take advantageMT: They were taking advantage of us, starting to take advantage. Not at the beginning, but as they became a little aware that we were prisoners and we had no rights, that they can do anything they want. The rumor has it that... then after we were through with our thing we had, didn't have anything. We didn't have any money, we didn't have anything, so it didn't matter. But then we didn't have food either and so it didn't matter, but when... so I went out to see what's happening out there and I happen to be in an area where, they were telling me, that suddenly when the riots, just as the riots started, I saw them -- it was just before noontime -- they had the tables set in the mess halls and there was a guy, they claim he was Korean or half Korean or something and he was a spy for the -- they said he was Korean, I don't know if that's true or not -- but that this fellow, Asian fellow was a spy for the authorities. And they caught up to him. The rumors were going on, when this thing broke up they started going after him, and they did injure him badly. I know that they claim that a typewriter was thrown on his head. I know he was cut and was bleeding, blood, later on I saw the blood. But they started chasing him through the mess hall and as they went through they would pick up the dishes and the cups -- they were porcelain, earthenware -- and they were throwin' at him as they would pass by. That I did witness. TI: Everyone was? MT: Huh? TI: Everyone was doing that, or lots of people? MT: No, I just saw him in that one mess hall. TI: No, but in terms of who was throwing, was it lots of people were throwing? MT: Several. These were all teenagers and older, older teenagers and older were doing that, chasing him. And one of the things that happened as the riot was going on is a lifelong lesson that I received, and that lifelong lesson was that, when I was watching one of the camp officials, a white official, stood up on one of these milk boxes, those sturdy boxes, and he said, "Stop it, stop it. You're gonna make it bad for yourself. Don't do this, don't do this. You'll make it worse for yourself." And I thought, wow, he's brave to do that. And this one guy, young, one teenager, older teenager said, "What do you care? We're all Japs." And he says, "No, no, you're Americans. Don't do that, don't do that.“ (continued)
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51 MT: The MPs came in, and then the MPs came in when the riot started, and a friend of mine was right at the fence, right where they were. Again, another funny incident he told me about, he said that they blew the whistle for assembly and the guys came running out in their T-shirts and shorts. They said, "Get your clothes on." They ran in, they put their clothes on came and the sergeant told 'em, they came back out, he says, "Where's your weapon?" Ran back in, got their weapon. [Laughs] 'Cause they could see that the riot's going on, and then they came in, and I was at that main thoroughfare, which was very big, next to the, one side was the stables and one side was the barracks, and they came in. And they came in and in front was a man with a BAR, Browning automatic rifle, a large automatic rifle, carrying that, and suddenly people started giggling and laughing. He had his fly wide open. He had forgotten to button his fly and he's walkin' down there. Everybody start laughing, he couldn't figure out what it was until finally somebody told him. [Laughs] TI: But still, it was kind of like, I mean, a BAR is a very dangerous, lethal weapon. MT: Oh yeah. We had no weapons. TI: And people were, would still laugh at him even though he carried this weapon? MT: Because he had his fly wide open. And it wasn't, it wasn't just open, it was wide open, so his shorts were showing. [Laughs] So that's why everybody started laughing. And I know that they came in with a tank. Maybe it was a weapons carrier, but they had an armored like that vehicle coming in and so forth, and so everybody calmed down and parted ways and let them come in. Now, afterwards I was in the, near the Santa Anita, the grandstand 'cause I heard some commotion going on, and what happened is I heard this MP yelling at, which I later found out was a guard, to get out of there. He was in the boys' room, men's room. TI: So this is an MP yelling at civilian guards? MT: Yelling at the civilian guard to get out of there. So he comes out, and told him to get moving and the guy didn't move fast enough. He had his bayonet; he put his bayonet on his buttocks and tore his pants. The guy then moved. He was kind of... and what people suspected was he was in the bathroom flushing the money away. Now it may not be, he maybe had to go to the bathroom 'cause he was so scared. (continued)
52 TI: You mean essentially getting rid of the evidenceTI: You mean essentially getting rid of the evidence? I mean, that it's things that he had probably stolen and he was... MT: Yeah. Oh yeah. That's what the rumor was. That, again, was the rumor. TI: And that the MP guard was upset about that and that's why he was so harsh. MT: Trying to get him out, get him out of there. Told him to get 'em all out of there. And so anyway, that wasn't, that was part of the incident that I witnessed. TI: And what were the repercussions of this? I mean, did life at Santa Anita change after this? MT: Well, there was, yeah, life did change, a bit. Recognition, people that were, that needed special care and so forth, and food, I think the food changed a little bit, got a little bit better. And I heard nothing more about inus or spies around. There were no more rumors about that. There was tension, of course, at that time, but people kind of calmed down and life became as it was. That's all I remember. TI: But did the administration tighten security on people or make it harder? It sounds like they, they listened to the grievances of, of the... MT: I was not involved with any of those things or even heard about that thing, and I don't remember, you know, they censored all our papers. It was the Santa Anita Pacemaker it was called, and I have a copy of that, one copy, one edition of that, but that's what it was and it was all censored, so it was, they didn't put anything in there that would be adverse to the administration. They changed the camp director. They removed him. TI: Okay.
53 Densho Digital Archive Raechel Donahue and Garrett Lindemann Collection Title: Nobu Shimokochi Interview Narrator: Nobu Shimokochi Interviewer: Raechel Donahue Location: Date: 2010 Densho ID: denshovh-snobu_2-01
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55 The following slide contains an interview from the Center for Oral and Public History, CSU Fullerton. This interview reveals the discrepancies of the reactions of parents and their children. The children of Lillie Y. McCabe thought it was an exciting afternoon’s entertainment. She, however, had been fearful that her missing children could become crushed in the riotous mob. Title An Oral History with Lillie Y. McCabe (transcript) Creator McCabe, Lillie Y: interviewee Yamada, Jeffrey B.: interviewer Center for Oral and Public History, CSU Fullerton: publisher Date Created and/or Issued Contributing Institution California State University, Dominguez Hills, Archives and Special Collections Collection CSU Japanese American Digitization Project
56 JY: You went to Santa AnitaJY: You went to Santa Anita. You were there during the riot, weren’t you? LM: Yes. Well I was in the barracks and my husband wasn’t home. The two children were lost in the riot, and I was frantic. I don’t know what started the riot, perhaps from the food. They didn’t give them decent food. Some of these Army of Navy personnel or whoever brought the food, did not bring the allocations but were selling it on the side. They found that out, I understand, while we were hungry. So they had a riot; I don’t know much about it. The soldiers came with a truck and bayonets and everything. The Japanese people were throwing their cups and dishes at these soldiers, and the soldiers were trying to stop them. I think the riot came from the lack of food. You see the attendants were selling sugar while we were just given a teaspoon. I’m sure the United States government gave us more than that. We understood they were selling it. I had a very hard time, for my sons, Ernest and Edwin, were lost. There was one woman with her baby, who was so hysterical and so riled up, she did not know the baby’s arm was off its socket. She was just dragging the baby, and she didn’t even know. Mob psychology is the most scary thing in your life. I had never seen a riot in my life until then. Well, I tried to go in to find my children because they were little teeny things. It finally got settled, and around four-thirty, five o’clock in the afternoon the two little tykes came home. “What were you doing? I’ve been looking for you.” I said. “Oh, we were way on the other side. It was a lot of fun. A soldier caught a woman by the arm, and the other one threw a cup at him, and the other one threw a dish at him. It was a lot of fun, mother.” I said, “Oh my gracious, if you would have gotten in that crowd you would have been crushed to death.” They were on the side, I understand, so they didn’t get hurt, but a lot of them did get hurt. It was very scary. Everybody’s face was pale, I don’t care whether it was a soldier or a civilian, it didn’t make any difference. It settled, but I think the food rationing improved. They had to have food, but they didn’t have enough.
57 To read the FBI report regarding the Santa Anita Riot click on the hyperlink below.The report gives detailed accounts of the different outbreaks in the camp on August 4, 1942. Rep. No (August 10th, 1942). Federal Bureau of Investigation.
58 To read this November 8, 2009 article by Alison Bell click the hyperlink below:Santa Anita racetrack played a role in WWII internment. The extensive grounds were used as the nation's largest assembly center to house about 19,000 Japanese Americans before they were relocated to camps. To see more of the Los Angeles Times photos of the Santa Anita Assembly Center click the hyperlink below
59 20 West Duarte Road Arcadia, CA 91006Pacemaker August 5 and 8, 1942 Accessed at Arcadia Public Library 20 West Duarte Road Arcadia, CA 91006 Tel: (626) Fax: (626)
60 Works Cited Slide One: Arnott, Andrew Hugh. “Japanese arriving by taxi at Santa Anita Assembly Center are met with searches.” Los Angeles Times. internment-santa-anita-assembly-center/#/19. Slide Two: Inada, Lawson Fusao, ed. Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience, pp. ix-xvi. Heydey, Berkeley, CA Oppenheim, Joanne. Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During WWII and a Librarian who Made a Difference. Scholastic, NY Slide Three: Arnott, Andrew Hugh, Horton Churchill, Gordon Wallace, and Wayne B. Cave. Los AngelesTimes Photographs Slide Four: Wallace, Gordon. “Japanese gather near Vermont Avenue and 23rd Street to register at civil control station before proceeding to Santa Anita Assembly Center.” Los Angeles Times. Densho Digital Archive. Densho Visual History Collection. Toshi Nagamori Ito Interview Laguna Woods, California, November 9, 2010.Densho ID denshovh-itoshi-01. Segment 13.
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71 Slides Thirty and Thirty-One:Tsumagari, Yukio. “Letter to Eleanor Breed.” Letter from Yukio Tsumagari to Clara Breed's sister, Eleanor. Based. On this letter it can be assumed that Eleanor prepared excerpts of letters written to the Berkeley International House by students and alumni of UC Berkeley who were interned. See GC and GF. Transcription. All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Slide Thirty-Two: Ishino, Margaret. “Letter to Miss Breed.” Letter and envelope from Margaret Ishino written to Clara Breed. Transcription. August 18, All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum Slides Thirty-Three through Thirty-Six: Hirasaki, Ted. “Letter to Miss Breed.” Letter and envelope from Tetsuzo (Ted Hirasaki) to Clara Breed. Transcription D/Poston, Arizona, November 16, All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management & Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum. Gamon Art. Pins made from wood within Santa Anita. On display at The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage. 380 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA Tel: (626) Fax: (626)
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