Idle Gossip Nucleus Budded in Ward
Room
By PETE KONDO
You've always heard of slinging Sam, slinging the
"Bull," but Slinging Kenso Kiyohiro's yarns are tall and long as are the
winds of Manzanar.
Edward Shepherd in bed with a hip dislocation. Come
what may there's nothing that can disrupt his quiet manner and humor. A
smile lights his face though trouble comes along. He is a man wise for
his 83 years.
Young in years but mature in action is our
personality orderly of Ward 11. He is a student of Manzanar High and his
ambition is to be a M.D. May we present our "Harold Teen," Shigeki
Sugiyama.
"Looks are deceiving" so we are told, and in the case
of orderly Sam Seki this is true as the general consensus of opinion is
that he is a kibei. Relocating recently to Chicago, his friends are
conscious of the value of fine friendship.
Tall, dark and handsome and as fickle as the autumn
breeze is "lover" George Nakano. We wonder how his hair got so wavy.
First he moaned and groaned, then he ranted and raved
for the expected birthday greeting which heretofore had always arrived,
but as it failed to appear from said "friend" it Arkansas, he took up
smoking a pipe, a vice in which he had never before indulged. First it
curled his hair then he underwent the chameleon's act of turning
different hues which finally ended up in a shade of chartreuse around
about the gills. Buck up goo-goo eyes, we hear that Tatsuo "Peanut"
Shioji has a way with the ladles.
It is life to laugh and be gay when fortune smiles
your way, but how few are they who keep it up in spite of all
adversities. Even after 18 years of being handicapped with a chronic
bone infection, Joe Kishimoto has a most pleasant air of optimism. If
ever the opportunity arises, remember Joe, we have a date to go
fishing.
FINE HEALTH SERVICE RENDERED BY SMALL MEDICAL
STAFF
Carrying out the recognized WRA policy that each
evacuee shall receive the best of medical care, the modern 250-bed base
hospital located in the most westerly part of the center, has rendered
untiring service to the Manzanar residents for a span covering a year's
period. Derived from its single apartment headquarters situated in block
one, the present base hospital was constructed last July in accordance
with blueprints of the ones ordinarily constructed in the theatre of
operations by the United States Engineering Department.
Emergency Hospital Erected
Dr. James Goto, Fumiko Gohata, RN, and Frank Chuman
were appointed by the U. S. Public Health Department to set up an
emergency hospital for the immediate care of evacuee volunteers who
first set foot on this territory late in March, 1942.
In May, 1942, General DeWitt Bendetsen, upon visiting
this center, promised administrative staff that the construction of a
250-bed hospital would commence immediately following his departure.
Upon completion on July 22, 1942, the hospital was transferred to the
new site in one day.
Dr. Morse Little, Project Medical Director, and
Nursing Director Gertrude Wetzel, arrived in October.
Relocation Policy Affects Physicians, Nurses
The category of physicians and nurses has been
greatly affected by the relocation policy. At the present time, there
are only three physicians, Drs. Little, Takahashi and Muramoto. These
physicians have seen, since the first of this year, a total of 11,050
out-patients, 636 in-patients and have performed 129 surgical
operations. Rapid increase in the number of patients necessitated the
utilization of six out of the seven wards and has imposed a tremendous
strain upon not only the physicians but also the nurses, attendants, and
orderlies.
Medical Branches Also Taxed
The dental clinic also felt the impact of the
relocation of dentists with only Drs. Kikuchi, Nagao, Iwamizu, and
Nakamura remaining to care for some 6,900 patients. The one optometrist
at the hospital renders services consisting of determining refractions,
lens duplications, miscellaneous repairs, and adjustment of frame
temples. Since the first of the year, more than 1200 persons have been
seen. The laboratory has been severely affected in that every qualified
laboratory technician has relocated. The hospital X-Ray service has been
of invaluable assistance in diagnosing and treating ailments.
It is a noteworthy fact that in spite of the
decreasing number of hospital employees and medical services rendered,
according to Ass't. Med. Adm. Frank Chuman, the health and medical
service to the evacuees has been maintained at a commendably high
level.
