In the spring of 1942, just months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more than 100,000 residents of Japanese ancestry were forcefully evicted by the army from their homes in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Alaska, and sent to nearby temporary assembly centers. From there they were sent by trains to American-style concentration camps at remote inland sites where many people spent the remainder of the war.
One of those relocation centers was Camp Harmony, where thousands of Japanese Americans lived in temporary housing before moving to more permanent camps in Idaho. Camp Harmony is also the site where our fictional family, The Okabes was held. After reading "Visiting Hours," and "Home Again," view the two essay letters below. These letters were written by young Japanese Americans who attended school while stationed within Camp Harmony. What are your thoughts here? Do the emotions and opinions of these young teens match those of Keiko? Please take the time to think through your thoughts before replying.
[Photo, Essays, and Relocation Information courtesy of University of Washington Libraries]
Reading Assignment: pgs 158-171
Reading Assignment: Letter Essays (posted below)
Due: Wednesday, March 30
Essay by Amy Mitamura from Camp Harmony
Essay by Henry Fukuhura from Camp Harmony