Partial Transcript: Sam remembers Reverend Anderson standing outside the camp all winter long before being able to come inside Minidoka. After a year the government, allowed outside organizations such as the churches to enter the camp. A recreation hall was used for the different religious services. Inside the camp, a few non-Japanese individuals were living there. He recalls a bi-racial couple, and the husband was Caucasian. He did not want to be separated from his wife, who was Japanese.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: For school, the laundry room was utilized as a classroom. There was a teacher who recently graduated from Minnesota, and she came to Minidoka to teach. Inside the camp, there were living facilities for the teachers. Post-war, Sam saw his teacher at a camp reunion, and she remembered him. Sam describes the food served in camp. Many of the fruits and vegetables were shipped in because nothing was grown in Minidoka.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: At Minidoka, there were approximately 12,000 Japanese American internees. Minidoka was the third-largest in Idaho. Sam says the plumbing at Minidoka was better than Puyallup Assembly Center. He shared stories he heard about the sewage system from other camps. In Minidoka, they have their police, fire station, hospital, and administration. Various jobs were also available in Minidoka with low wages. Sam mentioned if people were unhappy with the camp situation, there is not much you can do about it. You do not have rights.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Outside Minidoka, there was a town called Eden. The walk to Eden is three miles in the desert. Sam heard that some internees would leave and go to Eden to get drinks. Sam recalls Christmas time at camp. If anyone needed to buy anything, internees would order from a catalog, or the Minister would help them.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; Issei; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In Idaho, the weather in the summer was hot and dry, and in the wintertime, the weather was cold and dry. In the winter, Sam recalls the pond froze and going ice skating. Depending on the block, the block organizes social activities like dances. The dances were in the mess hall, and turntables played the music. Sam discusses dating and hanging out in groups with his friends. In camp, there are still signs of patriotism. A flag hung at the administration office and the guard camp. Sam recalls music playing when the flag was raised and lowered.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Minidoka; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: In Minidoka, there were Boys Scouts and Cub Scouts for the youth. Sam attended school and continued to work with the advance crew in the garage. In the garage, Sam assisted the mechanics with repairing trucks. Sam mentions farming does not happen until later in Minidoka. In 1943, Sam was inducted into the Army. He was aware of the 442nd because they came to the camp looking for volunteers. Volunteering for the Army was the fastest way out of camp.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; World War Two; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: Sam discusses the possibility of death during wartime. Volunteering for service was the easiest way to leave camp at that time. Sam recalls the WRA giving the loyalty questionnaire, and some of his friends were deported to Japan. However, one of Sam's friends was able to return to the United States after the war. Sam was drafted into the Army, and his parents told him not to bring shame to the family.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; draft; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; loyalty; Nisei; Tule Lake; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Joining the Army was an adventure for Sam. Before being inducted, Sam and his friend visited another friend. On the day of the induction, Sam lined up in the Navy line because it was shorter. However, he was instructed to go line up in the Army line (which was longer). At the induction center, Sam has KP duty washing pots and pans. The first day of Army life for Sam began at Camp Shelby, MS. He met a Hawaiian soldier who intimidated him.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Shelby; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland soldiers; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: At basic training, Sam learned how to obey orders, physical strength building, and weapons. For three months of training, Sam was assigned to a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Anytime to leave Camp Shelby is a treat. The closest town to Camp Shelby was Hattiesburg. Sam recalls going to Hattiesburg once. Basic training was cut short because replacements were needed overseas. After training, Sam's groups went to Fort Meade and then to Europe. Sam was left behind at Camp Shelby because he was sick. Later Sam received orders to go to Fort Snelling Military Intelligence Service Language School.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; European Theater; Fort Meade; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service Language School; World War Two

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