Comments
Dear Brian Minami,
I was referred to your website by Grant Din (gdin@aiisf.org).
We have been doing some research for the Kauai Museum of Kauai ISSEI interned during WWII (62 were held at Santa Fe). Three internees in your photo of the “Poetry Group” are in our Kauai files.
Rev Chiko Odate was the Buddhist priest at the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji at Waimea, Kauai from 1928-1941. He was born in Japan in 1898 and immigrated to Hawaii in 1928 with his wife and 2 children (2 other children were born on Kauai)
Kochi Tatsuhara and Tsuruzo Hasegawa were both Japanese Language School instructors at Kekaha, Kauai. Tatsuhara was born in Japan in 1891 and immigrated to Hawaii in 1934. No other info. Hasegawa was born in Japan in 1899. His wife was a Hawaii NISEI (they had 4 children).
All 3 were detained in Dec. 1941 after Pearl Harbor and arrived in Santa Fe in June 1943. The families of Odate and Hasegawa (voluntarily) went to Jerome (WRC) in Jan 1943. Odate and Hasegawa were “paroled” to Jerome in Mar. 1944 to join their families; they eventually ended up at Tule Lake.
Yasutaro Soga was a noted ISSEI journalist, poet, and activist in Honolulu. He published a detailed account of his internment experiences in his book, “Life Behind Barbed Wire”.
I have not been able to “connect” any other Kauai people with the “unknowns” in your photo.
BTW, is Frank Toshinori Yamauchi your great-grandfather? Have continued success in your research.
ROY and Barbara Miyake
Hello,
I was born in New Mexico but had never heard of this internment camp and I live about a mile away.
Last evening while doing a web search for 'Casa Solana Neighborhood Watch', I came across the reference to your website. Quite honestly, I was stunned and deeply touched. Today I've poured over the main story and also each of the lovely poems and beautiful pieces of artwork. I can't thank-you enough for providing this wealth of information to those of us who 'never knew'!
I live in a condominium community ("The Reserve" ... formerly called "Shadowridge") in Santa Fe. We're just off St Francis near the National Cemetery. We have a newsletter called "R*news" that is published for our residents about 4 times a year. Occasionally, I contribute and am always interested in writing about something that might be 'new & interesting' ( ... see attachment for our last newsletter - - - I did the 'Horned Toad' article). Would you consider giving me permission to write a piece on the 'Santa Fe Internment Camp' and possibly use quotes and 1 or 2 photos from your web-site? I'd be pleased if you'd like to review it first and the article would only be used the 'one time' for our newsletter (there is no 'profit' involved, as the newsletter is just an ammenity for our residents. Of course, you'd be given credit for the information.
My deep appreciation for your fascinating website and the knowledge it's provided. Have a wonderful 'new' year.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Peck
To Whom it may concern:
I recently read with much interest an article about the Japanese internment camp once located here in Santa Fe. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish may own one of the actual buildings from the original internment camp. It is currently located at our warehouse storage facility and is basically unused and deteriorating.
I have heard that it was the original commissary building.
I often wondered, if true, could it be moved, refurbished and made into a small camp museum.
If anyone is interested in pursuing this idea, please contact me and I’ll give someone a tour.
Who knows………………………….
Wm. Mark Gruber
Youth Shooting Sports Program Manager
N.M. Department of Game and Fish
My name is Fredrick Sandoval. I read today\'s Journal North Edition on the Santa Fe Internment Camp. I have referenced this Japanese American experience during presentations and trainings I have conducted on Cultural and Linguistic Competency. I would like to include photographs to accompany the presentations related to this New Mexico experience. Do you have a permission request form so that I can reference and use photos taken of the Santa Fe Internment Camp?
Dear sirs could you pass on a message to Valerie Galabert...one of your requesties in this comment section. My father was a best friend to Bundy Avant. My mother is still alive and has all kinds of stories to tell about them. She adored BUNDY , she was 30 years younger than my dad who passed supposedly in 1964. please give her this message for me and my email. Thanks.
Margot Malone ( Robert Malone\'s daughter)
I was fascinated by your fine article about Lordsburg, New Mexico during W.W. 2.
I am also imterested in the History of Lordsburg, but for a slightly earlier period.
In the summer of 1932, ( August, I believe) my Dad, and four other gentlemen, all from the New York City area, joined together in a joint venture, and purchased the mining rights to 10 or 12 gold mines located near Lordsburg.
The five of them \"headed West\" , bent on \"making their fortunes\". !!!
By November, they had all come back east, having discovery that assays of the ore being taken out the the mines , showed such a low percentage of \"golfd\", that the cost of mining it would be prohibitive.
My Dad, still undauunted, wanted to go back and \"give it one more try\", and decided t take his family along.
So , in November of that year we were on our way. The family beside Dad, were my Mom, Dad\'s Mom, my brother ( then 11 yrs.) and myself, ( then 8 yrs. of age)
I remember well having a fine Thanksgiving Day dinner in the famous \"Willard Hotel Dining Room\" , in Washington, D.C.
This was such an impressive place. The walls of the Dining Room were lined with many of the dignitaries, ( Congressmen etc.) who dined there frequently. Even as an 8 year old, I was really impressed. !!!).
On to Lordsburg. We arrived there early enough for us to be settled in by Christmas, which was great by my brother and me.
We lived in a \"Modern\" , quite new \"apartment complex\", a block or so in from the main street. There were eight apartments, four double units, surrounding a \"court Yard\" ,
complete with a raised fish pond, built much like a brick well, but raised above the ground. What we found extremely interesting was that the surface of the \"pond\" would freeze over nightly. but would thaw out again quite early in the day.
I would really be interested with more of the History of Lordsburg!!--- to pass along to my family.
Do you know how I would access same???
Ruth E. (Von Rodeck) Alt
Murder by drunks....
Horrible account of the murdering cowards
that shotgunned to death two unfortunate
American Citizens...Shame on the US Army
...American Citizens!...
I AM A 101ST Vietnam Vet and took one NVA
pow..I gave him my canteen with water and
a cigarette...no need to murder pow\'s.
Chance...rio rancho
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Jessica Habjan and I am working with KNME-TV in collaboration with The New Mexico History Museum on one of 15 short pieces about different and unique aspects of New Mexican history. The piece I am currently working on is about the The Santa Fe Japaneses Internment Camp. I am currently looking for photos and materials for this piece. I was impressed by your organizations website and would like to see if it would be possible to talk with you about incorporating some of your photos and poetry into our piece. I am working Mr. Michael Kamins, the executive producer at KNME-TV, and he suggested that I try to get in contact with someone at your organization as you could be a great resource for this project. Mr Kamins has tried to contact you in the past but hadn't received a reply.
Sincerely,
Jessica Habjan
Hi my name is Valarie Gelabert and my great grandfather Bundy Avant was an officer at this camp, I have a painting from one of the people who were at this camp that was given to my grandfather. I have been trying to find out the history on this painting and the gentleman who painted it. His name on the painting was Casey Kondo, if you have any information could you please mail me and let me know.
Valarie Gelabert
Hi,
I have been working on my wife's family tree for a couple years now and just came across your site. Her grandfather was interned in Santa Fe very early on and not permitted to join the rest of her family (including her father) in Poston until 1945. I have spent some time recently trying to learn more about Santa Fe and it's been fairly difficult to find much substantive to read about it, and pictures (as you no doubt know better than I do) are even harder to come by.
The only family member left who could best identify her grandfather is her uncle, who is himself in his mid 80s and whose eyesight, sadly, is poor. I am writing to ask whether you have a larger or more detailed scan of the photograph of the (presumed-) poetry group available that you could send so that I could print and send it to him? Her grandfather's name, just in case it rings a bell, was Sukegoro Tawa.
Thanks for your site. It's an interesting one and I look forward to poking around it more and learning from it.
Dave Gordon
Thank you so much for the information here. My aunt found this website and the paperwork you provided assisted me in finding my aunt's files (Sand Island, Honouliuli) and grandfather's files (Sand Island, Santa Fe, & Lourdsberg). It was very emotional to ready.
I believe my grandfather may have been a part of a poetry group at one of the two camps in New Mexico since in a packet of paperwork we discovered, there was a book of poems, and a Buddhist book of sutras that he probably chanted.
Thank you so much for keeping this website up.
Todd Z. Takahashi
I would like to know how many Japanese Peruvian were in this Camps. I read in the Higashide Book that all of them were single, Would l you help me I am working in my PHD dissertation and is about The Japanese in Latina America during the WWII
Prof. Haydeč Vilchez
History department
UPEL IPC Caracas Venezuela
Dear Mr. Brian Minami
I have called you twice but as you seemed busy, I e-mail you.
I am Teruko Kumei, a professor at Shirayuri College in Tokyo, teaching American history and culture.
My current research topic is a short poetry (haiku, tanka, and senryu). While looking through websites, I came across the photos of senryu poems in shikishi, for example Jakki' poem.
I have studied senryu and haiku made in Santa Fe and other internment camps and actually I met a son of Jakki Yasutake.
I like to know where those shikishis are now. If possible I like to make contact with the person or persons who have those shikishi.
I am now in Seattle, but will back to Japan on 14th.
But I can come back to the US, in December or in February.
Teruko Kumei
Shirayuri College
Thank you for such a beautiful website. I'm hoping that you have or can direct me to more information about the people interned at Santa Fe.
My grandfather was interned there in 1944 and I have several group photos taken at the camp. His name was Mamoru Suga from Honolulu, Hawaii and he passed away when I was very young. Is there a list of internees or any other information available?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Aloha,
Natalie Suga Kossuth
Hi Brian, just reconnected with the web site as we are reading a book about the whole mess in my book group. Just wanted to clarify that I am Lloyd Jensens niece, not nephew! Hope to learn more on one of our trips through Santa Fe.
Many thanks,
Lou Schatz
Hello, I have a watercolor picture I found in a Reno,Nevada thrift store of the Japanese Internment Camp at Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is signed, "Carmo and Company" I can send via email this picture--Please let me know if you have any information concerning--Thank you,
Many thanks,
G. McNulty
Thank you for a thoughtful and important website. My grandfather, Hiroshi Aisawa, was at Lordsburg and Toshiro Kobata was a close family friend. My dad remembers Mr. Kobata bringing presents for all the kids at Xmas time when they lived in Brawley.
Many thanks,
Ellan Aisawa Young
Will you be posting the additional pictures of the Santa Fe camp soon? My grandfather was interned in the camp from June 1943 to October 1945 after about eight months in Lordsburg. He was one of the camp cooks. I am very interested in seeing the additional pictures of the camp -- maybe my grandfather will be in one of them.
khlh1408
I remember as a very young child, about 3 -5 years of age, my dad taking me to the interment camp in Lordsburg,cant remember much except a fire truck. The road the goes to the interment camp is now known as POW Road. There is one building left that used to be the hospital but no other markers that I know of.
darredondo
I love your site. I am a volunteer with the Oregon Nikkei Endownment and we are working on a project/program about Oregon residents that were incarcerated after Pearl Harbor. I especially like your links to NARA and the forms download. I'd like to have our site be able to do that. http://www.oregonnikkei.org
Also I'd like to know more about the people you researched in case any of our Oregonians are included.
We used a photo of Oregon incarcerated people at Santa Fe for the starting list.
Thanks for any response
Amy
My dad, Hideki Fukui, was imprisoned here after being shipped out of Manzanar & Tule Lake for being a "troublemaker." I have a photo to share. ...who can I send a digital copy to to share on this site? My dad is still alive in Oceanside, CA. I live in Boulder, CO and wonder if any of the people in the photo are still alive or perhaps live in the Rocky Mountain area?
garrels
My apologies for my much delayed reply as I've been meaning to contact you for some time, and my thanks to you for your reply. I would like to talk to you at some point to ask a few questions about Santa Fe as my grandfather was in Santa Fe during WWII, sent there from Tule Lake. My father was sent to Bismarck, ND about the same time. I'm only beginning the process of gathering information about their experiences.
I am heading to Tule Lake for the 2009 pilgrmage next week. Please let me know if and when you might be available for a telephone call. I am located in the Los Angeles, South Bay area.
I'll look forward to talking to you.
Regards,
James
I also wish to add my thanks to those responsible for this website. For years I had no luck writing to the Justice Department for my grandfather's records as an internee of the Santa Fe Camp and was finally successful using the information I found here! The information received was incredible and would not have been possible without your website's information. Sincere thanks on behalf of the Taikichi Kato family!
rsasaki99
As a child my mother would often tell me stories of the internment camp and the people she had met there. She had a job where she did the shopping for the camp detainees. She always felt sorry for the inmates and felt that the government had done them an injustice. Her name was Josephine Ce De Baca
lobato.rick
This is a beautiful website - thank you for preserving this piece of history. I just visited Lordsburg for the first time, and saw no marker or other sign suggesting that families had been interned there - perhaps we repeat these injuries to ourselves because there are not enough people like you to help us recall them. The poetry and description of the covered-up killing of two \"escapees\" on your site is also quite profound.
pilarnyc
Thank you for your website. Are you still interested in learning the names of members in the group? One of the members is my grandfather who was from Hawaii. Also, my mother and uncle are able to identify several of the other "unknowns" in the photo.
Thank you,
J. Kawabata
Honolulu, Hawaii
A beautiful website with tribute. Will you be having any activities for the remembrance date in Santa Fe?
yukita9
This is an incredible site. I teach New Mexico history near Santa Fe, and this is one chapter of our history that remains virtually unknown. Your website, which was highlighted in a recent Pasatiempo article and Nancy Bartlit's "Hidden Voices of WWII" are doing wonders to end this historical amnesia. Thank you.
jdwaldman
Years ago (2000?) I wrote to Joe Ando and wonder if he completed his project of identifying the men interned at Santa Fe. My father and his younger brother were held there; they lost their US citizenship and it took years to get it back. My mother, my sisters and I remained at the Poston camp. Is there a museum where documents/photos of the camp can be viewed?
I enjoyed your site and wish to thank those that worked hours on this project.
Hatsumi Yamakawa Park
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