1942 12 4 Letter from Kay to Tom

1942 12 4 Letter from Kay to Tom

Page 1: Kay tells in more detail about the Thanksgiving Dinner in the dining hall. The camp cook made a masterpiece of pumpkin pie. Ate nus, fruits (red apples, grapes and oranges). Neech and Keech and the baby had dinner at home, but the rest of the family dressed up and ate dinner at their own table. Mother Tomi made the annual Thanksgiving prayer. If she could have "forgot the hundreds of other people and the army-like dining hall, it would have been just like home." Robert O'Brien, Nat Director of the NSRC, who visited said he refused to work for the WRA "because he couldn't stand the double standards." He acts as consultant without pay to the WRA, and wanted to hear complaints. Joe and Betty Goodman came to visit, but were made to sleep in Caucasian Block2 by "head clamper-downer Mr. Bell," the same man who told Caleb he could not give speech in Camp. "They thought they'd better do it rather than get themselves in a mess."

Page 2: The Goodmans interviewed kids, and helped out in the Student Relocation Office. There are approx 2000 youth who wish to enroll in Univ, most without finances. Talks about Jerome camp, and its contrasts to Topaz. Says, "Arkansas doesn't want any 'Japs' released from either of the Camps." Whereas, she believes Topaz affords her more freedoms, and Delta (city) is welcoming. Mary Mac (of the Fellowship of Reconcilation) visits and raises morale.

Page 3: Kay talks about tough time getting job as Japanese-American even with a UCLA degree: story of embittered Laura's brother. Kay talks about the troubles of getting a job herself outside of camp. Chiz is making "ham-u-u." "the real macoy." "Everybody looks like heck since we are all too small for these 38 size jackets" [the govt gave them, originally for coast guard]. John plans to leave for seminary school on Dec 15th.

Kay Yamashita

Dec 4, 1942