After Camp Harmony 1. Move to Minidoka Rumors about the

After Camp Harmony
1.
Move to Minidoka
Rumors about the ultimate destination for the inmates of Camp Harmony began
almost immediately. The camp newsletter regularly featured stories about Tule
Lake and an advance crew from Puyallup did leave for California. Contradictory
announcements from the Army helped fuel the rumors but by the middle of July it
was evident that Tule Lake was reaching capacity. But even as of July 18, 1942 the
camp newsletter was reporting that "An army press release, dated June 4, had
stated that Camp Harmony residents were slated for Tule Lake. However, no
further orders on relocation have been received, the WCCA office indicated. No
credence was placed in reports that Idaho would be the ultimate relocation
center."
By early August an advance crew of Camp Harmony residents were sent to
Minidoka in southeastern Idaho. Within a month the camp had been emptied and
Seattle's Japanese Americans found themselves in yet another hastily constructed
prison camp.
Source: http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/Exhibit/minidoka.html
2.
"Japanese at Puyallup to Go to Idaho." Seattle Times, August 5, 1942, pg. 1.
The 7,200 evacuated Japanese who have been quartered at Camp Harmony at the
Western Washington Fair Grounds and the area immediately adjacent to the
grounds in Puyallup since April, will be transferred to a permanent relocation
center in Idaho, beginning next Sunday.
The announcement was made today by Col. Karl R. Bendetson, assistant chief of
staff, Civil Affairs Division of the Western Defense Command and the Fourth Army.
Known as the Minidoka Relocation Center, the Idaho camp has been under
construction for some months near Eden, Jerome County, about 15 miles
southeast of Twin Falls and 150 miles southeast of Boise.
Source: http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/Exhibit/minidoka.html
3.
Leaving Camp Harmony
Source : http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/Photo/m28080.gif
4.
Minidoka Under Construction
Source : http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/Photo/mini.gif
5.
Letter from Kenji Okuda to Norio Higano dated August 27, 1942. Higano Family
Papers, Acc. 2870, Box 1, folders 9-11. UW Libraries Special Collections.
The camp is still very far from completed. They had to interrupt movement for a
week because of lack of housing facilities – in fact the last group of 500 which left
had to sleep in mess halls, laundry rooms, and any available bed space.
The W.R.A. officials were trying hard enough to have the Army stop the wholesale
movement – but the d___ Army waited until they were absolutely certain that the
camp over there could hold no more. There are about 4,500 there now – and no
running hot water as of the latest reports. The sewage and lavatory facilities are
still uncompleted – residents are using outhouses until all construction is
completed. The dust out there in the midst of the Minidoka desert, the sagebrush
and bugs, must be terrific. Most of the people there suffer from sore throats, and
dust storms are terrific – can’t see more than a couple of feet ahead. Many of the
residents get nosebleeds – the fine sand seems to wreck havoc with almost
everything. It is entirely possible that if we are there long enough and get water
on the soil, we will be able to make a veritable “Garden of Eden.” The first two
years will be hard – how many will be able to live through it and come through
triumphant?
Source: http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/Exhibit/minidoka.html
6.
Essays by Students at Camp Harmony
Source: http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/aas372/essays/kawachi.pdf
7.
Drawing Class at Camp Minidoka
Source : http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/aas372/big-mini3.jpg
8.
Teshie Boi and Henry Kumasaka sledding at Minidoka, 12/9/1942.