Manzanar Relocation Center

Here's a shot of 1 of the 3 ponds that were built at Manzanar.  My Grandpa helped to build the  ponds.  When my Grandpa and Grandma later in life bought a house in the San Fernando Valley he built a whole Japanese garden and pond in his backyard.  It was rad for us little kids to run out there and feed all his Koi fish and climb up top of this killer waterfall he made out of stone.  We would spend hours out there playing in his backyard.  Pretty amazing when it was around.

Manzanar Relocation Center Cemetary

Story that appeared in the Manzanar Free Press on August 18, 1943.

Construction of the Manzanar Cemetary Monument was completed earlier than expected and dedicated Saturday afternoon.  Directed by R.F. Kado, landscaper supervisor, approximately 60 members of the Buddhist Young People's organization together with Block 9 residents.

Photo I took on my recent trip to Manzanar.  The inscription reads, "Memorial to the Dead."

Origami Cranes that are left behind at the cemetary.  Origami cranes are believed to bring good luck and health.

442nd Regimental Combat Team

This is also posted at the entrance to Manzanar.

The motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was “go for broke.” It’s a gambling term that means risking everything on one great effort to win big. The soldiers of the 442nd needed to win big. They were Nisei - American-born sons of Japanese immigrants. They fought two wars: the Germans in Europe and the prejudice in America.

The regiment consisted of two groups of Japanese, the "Buddhaheads" from Hawaii and the "Katonks" from the mainland.  In the beginning the two groups didn't get along because the "Buddhaheads" never realized how the "Katonks" families were imprisoned in the camps.  Military high command were almost considering disbandoning the 442nd because they didn't think they could fight overseas as a unit.  So the Army decided to send a group of Buddhaheads to visit the camps in Arkansas.  After seeing the camps, Camp Jerome and Camp Rowher, with all the barber wire, guard towers and machine guns, the Buddhaheads understood.  As word got around about the camps the Buddhaheads gained a whole new respect for the Katonks.  From that time on they became united-like a clenched fist.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit for it's size and length of service, in the entire history of the U.S. Military.  They earned 9,486 purple hearts, 21 Medals of Honor and an unprecedented eight Presidential Unit Citations.

For more detail on the 442nd click on this link.

Manzanar Relocation Center Plaque

This plaque is posted at the entrance of Manzanar.

Manzanar Relocation Center

On the way to Mammoth Mountain just before the City of Independence there is a place called Manzanar.  My father was born there and my Grandpa, Grandma, Uncles and Aunts spent 3 years of their lives there.  This was because in the Spring of 1942 during WWII the American Government forced all Japanese living on the west coast and other areas to relocate to these "prison" camps.  It was done so fast that most families had to sell everything they had and for very cheap upon entering these camps.  So most families had nothing  when they were released. My dad's family were one of the "lucky" ones in that their neighbors watched and took care of their home while they were detained.  I took a few photos of Manzanar while we were up there last week.  We used to stop there all the time with my dad and  he would tell us about the place.  Back then they had it all closed off and you couldn't go on the grounds and see things.  They have since opened it up and have restored and marked the place with signs giving you a sense of where things were.  There is a museum next door but we were to late to visit it so we just drove around inside and looked around.  I will post more photos later in the week on Manzanar.

Original photo shot by Ansel Adams during the time the camp was occupied. Circa 1943

My photo of the sign they have restored to it's original state.

The original Military Sentry Police Post.  You originally were only able to go a little past this post before.  It was also in it's original state and could walk inside the post. They have refurbished the post and now have locked doors on it.

Picture of the entry way.  When they first open the whole place to the public years ago now, my aunts and uncles went back to visit the place and went to the area where they lived.  When they got to the spot they found marbles still in the dirt where one of my uncles used to play.