Raymond E. Muraoka

RAYMOND E. MURAOKA
Family # 3654
Camp: Manzanar, CA
Address: 14-4-1

My parents are American citizens; father was born in Hawaii and mother in Gardena, CA. Father was a farmer. At the time of Pearl Harbor there were six children: boy, 11; boy, nine; boy, eight; boy, six; girl, four; and girl, two. One child was stillborn after we got to camp. A brother and sister were born in camp. I was in the first grade. I did not finish. I was pulled out of school about three months after Pearl Harbor when the evacuation order came out.

Many things happened after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We burned most of our keepsakes that came from Japan. We turned in weapons, radios, and cameras to the police. We relocated to the San Fernando Valley to be with our grandparents. We were treated differently. There was a song “You’re a Sap, Mr. Jap.” We were treated as enemies.

Los Angeles had blackouts and air raid warnings. This was a new routine for all families. As a child, this was both frightening and a time for spooky games. We had a very short time since we moved quickly after the evacuation order. My father sold our new Plymouth. Our next door neighbor offered to store our belongings. The neighbor later dis­appeared. We took mostly clothes. Pets were the most difficult things to leave behind. I remember the fireplace where we burned our Japa­nese items.

The bus was crowded and slow. The trip was strange in that we were going into the unknown and not having a home to go home to.

My first impression of camp was that it was a very strange place: Barracks in a desolate place, camp was still being built. Everything was the same but different. It was getting dark; we assembled in a big group (waiting for barrack assignments). I remember waiting in line for vaccinations and crying when shot.

I missed the remainder of first grade (arrived in April 1942). Second grade was not much. Third grade was an academic disaster. In fourth grade I was the third best student in class. When I finished fourth, I didn’t start the fifth until November since the camp closed in November 1945.

I learned to be Japanese. Everything and everyone was homogenous.

There were many family friends and relatives in camp. We played marbles, tag games with many kids in our block. Eventu­ally we had a small swimming pool, gym bars, and basketball court. We learned early to play chess. I remember playing a game called War. I was told that the game was patented and someone changed it to “Stratego.” The original was much better and gave us many hours of enjoyment.

As I look back our culture was full of introverts, yet most kids were typically mean. Church, school, and family gave me happy memories.

I used to watch the train in the distant hills and know someday that I would be going to distant places like the scenes in the movies.

We left when camp was closing on November 15, 1945. We were there three and a half years. We were sent to a trailer camp across the street from Lockheed Aircraft that was still camouflaged to protect from Japa­nese air attack. It was humbling. We had chow lines, little money, and a very bleak future. When we talked about camp we mentioned camp as a common denominator. Camp was not the “experi­ence.” Camp meant we were all Japanese and had to work together to be accepted back as Americans. In school most kids thought we came from Japan so we were a curiosity. Later we witnessed a lot of discrimination.

Camp was a positive experience in that we were a homogenous group. Race was not a factor and we learned to judge and react to others for who they were. I learned early the value of strong family bonds. Alone, I was a shy, timid individual. With my brothers, we could conquer the world.

As individuals, each of us will experience many good and bad things. The more we experience, the more we grow. I feel that at 12 I was more mature than 21 year olds. After camp I sold and delivered newspapers and worked on farms. At 16, I got a job as a union produce clerk in a market. We worked to support our family now with eight kids. I always felt I had to do my share and always worked at being a better person. Being in camp, we made life long friendships. My best man was in Manzanar and another was an usher. Our backgrounds were similar but we learned to like each for the people that we were. This attitude has made my life rewarding with friends that I made in school, college, the army, work, and now with my local community members.

Wind and Dust
This wind and dust I have to bear
How hard it blows I do not care.
But when the wind begins to blow –­
My morale is pretty low.
I know that I can see it through
Because others have to bear it too.
So I will bear it with the rest
And hope the outcome is the best.
–­ George Nishimura, age 16 (Manzanar, 1943)

Read this to learn more about the demographics of each of the ten facilities administered by the War Relocation Authority.

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