1. society
2. unrest and war

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Henderson Home News I The Week of May 27-June 2, 2004
28
I\SII)K
iizanar
'Cowiioys, Outlaws &
Mew In Black;
P«ge3
Get some spiritual ins^rits 1
Japanese-American internee describes
her experience during Worid War 11
By JILL NUHA
Rosie Kakuuchi just wanted
an ice cream sundae.
It was 1945, and Rosie and
her older sister had finally
been released from Manzanar,
one of lO^Japanese internment
camps during World War II.
The greyhound bus made a
stop in Baker, Calif., and Rosie
couldn't wait to get ice cream,
a luxury she'd been deprived
of at camp. She got off, walked
into a restaurant and waited.
And waited.
"I watched the waitress
serve everyone at the circulation counter except my sister
and I," she said.
Recalling the memory,
Rosie's
78-year-old
eyes
squinted arid her mouth tightened with tension. But she
paused only a moment before
saying, "This is the only country we know and it's home."
Racial prejudices erupted
against Japanese-Americans
after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
Life changed dramatically
for more than 120,000 men,
women and children in February 1942 when former President Franklin Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066. Japanese-Americans living on the
West Coast had leave their
homes, farms and businesses
and relocate to one of 10 war
relocation centers. They were
given a week to move.
"We sold what we could for
whatever we could get," Rosie
said. "We had to get rid of
everything."
Rosie and her family, the
Marukis, arrived at Manzanar
in May 1942. The site is 200
miles north of Los Angeles on
U.S. .395.
"We lived at Block 21, Barrack 8, Apt. 3," Rosie said. "1 remember because we lived at
one of the most popular
blocks."
Each block consisted of 14
barracks and each barrack was
divided into four rooms. There
were shared men's and
women's toilets and showers,
a laundr> room and a mess
hall. Rosie said her parents
served food in the mess hall
and received wage.s of .SKi a
month. She worked in the persoimel office doing clerical
work for $ 12 a month.
"The highest wage for a
Japanese worker at camp vvas
$19 per month," she said.
"And that was for professionals like dentists, doctors and
teachers."
The shared bathrooms were
Rosie's biggest complaint,
however, as a >()ung v\oman.
She said there were 12 ioilets
with no partition.s and showers with no stalls.
"We wanted our privacy,"
she said.
Despite these adjustments,
Rosie described lile in camp as
normal.
"When "you're a teen-ager.
HENDERSON HOME NEWS | THE WEEK OF MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2004 | BOULDER CITY NEWS
"The highest wage for a Japanese worker at
camp was $19 per month," she said. "And
that was for professionals like dentists, doctors and teachers."
OBSERVANCES
RO.<;it KAKUUCHI
Manzanar internee
Morning ceremony
at Palm Mortuary
May a, WM
INSTRUCTIONS
TO ALL PERSONS OF
JAPANESE
ANCESTRY
Living in Hw Following Aroa:
I W tfeM i»nMi W llM I
PHOTOS COURtESY OF THE LATE TOYO MIYATAKE, PHOTOGRAPHER AND MANZANAR INTERNEE
Miyatake smuggled a lens and Aim holder into Manzanar, one of America's WWII concentration camp. He
was the first to capture life behind barbed wire wHh a makeshift camera made of scrapwood. More than
11,070 Japanese-Americans were housed at Manzanar during World War il. The historic site is located 200
miles north of Los Angeles on U.S. 395.
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(LIMmT
llaaMMI CliiA U. 1 Aia;
A copy of an original sign posted in San Francisco, California on IMay
3,1942 forcing Japanese Americans to evacuate their homes by noon
May 9,1942. They were given less than a week to sell their belongings and move to one of the 10 Internment camps located In Idaho,
Arliansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Oregon, California
and Arizona.
>our ideas are different," she
said. "We had no worries and
we enjo>ed ourselves."
It was an era of bobby socks,
saddle
shoes,
pullover
sweaters and the pompadour
hairst> le. Rosie .said dances on
almost ever>' holiday and special occasion were the most
popular social activity.
"We taught the guys how to
jitterbug," she said, smiling.
Jack Kakuuchi was drafted
in the war while his wife was
jitterbugging. He was among
26,000 Japanese-Americans
serving in the I i.S. Army during
the war. His parents were sent
to Heart Mountain, an internment camp in Wyoming.
"I couldn't understand why I
was serving in the U.S. Arm>
and my folks were getting
thrown into camp," he said.
Japanese-Americans drafted
in 1944 joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and
joined the 100th Infantry Battalion of the Hawaiian Territorial Guard.
The> were the most highly
decorated Army unit, it lost
9,84(j soldiers in combat,
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BOULDERCITY
utNOTk
t
Henderson's American
Legion BMI Post 40 has
organized the 39th annual
Memorial Day service at
Palm Mortuary Chapel, 800
S. Boulder Hwy., Henderson.
It will take place at 11 a.m.
Monday.
The program will also feature musical selections by
Mary Kay Mendenhall, Casey
Moore and Bill Wong.
Government officials will
offer Memorial Day tributes.
Community organizations
will place wreaths at the
flagpole in the cemetery, followed by the playing of taps.
which was the war's highest
casualty rate.
Rosie remembers only one
violent incident at Manzanar.
Two people were killed and 10
more were wounded in December 1942 b> militar>' police.
"A group of guys were hanging out near the gate and were Rosie Kakuuchi, a Il4anzanar internee during WOrid War II, holds up a picture of her yeartiook. Our World,
asked by soldiers to disperse," published by a journalism class at camp. The photo of a Japanese man cutting the barbed wire symbol*
izes freedom for Japanese Americans in 1945.
Rosie said. "They refused and
shots broke out."
"They were happy to receive in October 1990.
North Las Vegas.
Tragedy also struck Rosie's
"It was better than nothing,"
hi her letters, she instructs
family when Rub>, the eldest regular salary wages," she
daughter, died from comphca- said. "It took us years to save Rosie said. "The thing about students to remember two
America that's so great is that Japanese words: Gambare
tions during pregnancy. She up for a home."
Rosie was among 11,070 it admits its errors."
(GAM-bah-ray) — which means
was 23 years old.
Even though Rosie prefers to to go for it and to not give up
"She hemorrhaged to death Japanese-Americans at Manzaduring her pregnancy," Rosie nar. The last few hundred in- see the positive side of things, on yoiu" dreams — and Gaman,
said. "My mother kept request- ternees left in November 1945, she said she er\joys sharing her (GAH-MON), to endure.
"No matter what the odds
ing a physician at the hospital, three months after the war experiences in camp with the
but the> didn't listen."
ended. Despite the U.S. gov- younger generation. The East- are, make the most of what
The Maruki family- left Man- ernment subjecting internees em California Museum has you have and just hang in
zanar in July 1945 with two in- to filling out a loyalty ques- published booklets of person- there," she said. "These are the
stead of three daughters, the tionnaire in 1943, no Japanese- al stories from Manzanar in- words that carried us
belongings they could carry Americem was charged with es- ternees, including Rosie's. She through."
said she replies to all the mail
and no home to return to. They pionage.
sta>ed in a hostel until they
Former President George she receives.
.//// Nuha, a Henderson Home News
"They take the time to write staff writer, can be reached at
found emplo>ment. Her par- Bush, father of the current
ents started working as custo- president, sent a letter of apol- and ask me questions, so I take 990-2658. She wrote this ar^Jn
recognition of Asian-American
dians in a hotel and were able ogy and reimbursement to the time to answer them," AwarerKss Month, which ends
to live there.
""
"Japanese-American Internees Rosie said at Ker Tiome~ih Monday, y
American Legion at
Veterans Chapel
^jgr^llWai^JWOilg'','
N HONOR OF THOSE PATRIOTS
THAT ANSWERED AND CAME
THtY HAVE BROKEN THE SURLY
BONDS OF EARTH AND TOUCHED
THE FACE OF GOD
The American Legion
Department of Nevada will
have a Memorial Day cere:
mony starting at 1 p.m. in
the Southern Nevada
Veterans Memorial Chapel,
1900 Buchanan Blvd.,
Boulder City.
lASVEOAS
WWII Memorial to
be dedicated
Monday marks much more
than a day of rest and relaxation for working Americans
eAJoying a holiday from the
workplace.
Memorial Day, originally
called Decoration Day, is a
day of remembrance for
those who have died in the
nation's service.
Decoratilig graves in tribute to the brave has been a
tradition since the Civil War.
Whatever people's feelings
about the present war against
terrorism or any war In the
nation's past, Memorial Day
is about uniting to honor
those who gave their all.
No set ceremony is prescribed. Every celebration is
as unique as the individual
veterans who died in the
name of freedom throughout
the history of the United
States. An example of a private ceremony is Friday
morning's ceremony planned
by employees of Ford Credit
Henderson Service Center.
Though the festivities are not
open to the public, the company's veterans will pause to
remember veterans who gave
their Uves. The center employs 43 veterans.
The Gobel Lowden
Veterans Center and
Museum, 3333 Cambridge
St., Las Vegas, invites citizens to celebrate the dedication of the World War II
National Memorial at 10:30
a.m. Saturday.
The Washington dedication show, on a large screerr,
is a ceremony honoring all
veterans, with a special tribute to those who served In
World War II.
Program will honor
veterans, loved ones
Paradise Memorial
Gardens and Davis Paradise
Funeral Home, 6200 S.
Eeustern Ave., will host a
NAernorial Day program to
hoi^or and remember veterans and loved ones at 9:30
a.m. Monday.
Refreshments will be
served before and after the
event. Highlights will include
Nellis Air Force Base honor
guard and a 21-gun salute,
bagpipers, patriotic songs
and a dove release.
Paradise Memorial
Gardens and Davis Funeral
Home is on the corner of
S. Eastern and Patrick Lane
across from McCarran
International Airport. All are
invited to attend.
^THINGS
TO T)tf
World Beat at The
District all weekend
Celebrate Memorial
Day with chocolate
A Memorial Day weekend
of "Worid Beat" music is
coming to The District at
Green Valley Ranch on the
stage near the center's sculpture.
Schedule is as follows:
• Friday, 5 to 9 p.m.. Island
Tyme.
• Saturday, noon to 3 p.m.,
Mexico Vivo Dance Company;
5 to 9 p.m., Ricardo Griego
Flamenco Guitar.
• Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.,
Celtic Storm Dancers: 3:30 to
7:30 p.m., Vibhas Kendzia on
native flutes and piano with
special guest singer, Przisado.
• Monday, noon to 4 p.m.,
Vibhas Kendzia with Prasado.
Admission is free and all
ages are welcome.
Learn how to make a special Memorial Day treat when
Ethel M Chocolates and
William-Sonoma host a class
on how to fondue at home
with chocolate, fruit and
other traditional treats at
Ethel M at The District from 5
to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Join Ethel M master chef
David Bevill as he pairs sumrim fruits and other sweet
dipping treats with gourmet
chocolate. Williams-Sonoma
representatives will be'on
hand to discuss fondue products and accessories required
for successful dipping. Enjoy
complimentary samples
mskie Ethel M during the
demonstration. Attendance is
free and open to the public
Gone
but
never
forgotten
MIKE STOTTS/NEWS STAFF FILE PHOTOS
Ibp of page, wise words are engraved on a tombstone hi Southern Nevada VMerans
KMmorial Cemetefy h BouMer City. Above, Basic High School ROTC cadets bow their
heads during a ceremony in front of the dty of Henderson's memorial wall.
Despite high prices at pumps,
motoristsfuel upfor holiday weekend
By AFSHA BAWANY
Don't expect gasoline prices to miraculously decrease in time
for the holiday weekend, or anytime soon for that matter.
AAA Nevada has released a study showing the statewide average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline reached a
record high, $2.25 per gallon, up 52 cents from one year ago.
The nation also recorded a record high at $2.01 per gallon.
Nevadans are paying the fifth highest prices in the country,
right after California, Washington, Hawaii and Oregon.
In Henderson, the average cost of regular unleaded gas
jumped nine cents from last month, averaging $2.21.
In Las Vegas, gas is averaged at $2.23. Carson City has the
highest pump price: $2.31 per galloa
The cheapest gas can be found in Elko, at $2.04.
Sean Comey, AAA Nevada, attributes the rise to high demand
for gas during summer and lack of supply because of local and
worldwide factorg>'• .. '• . .^ .
*
' "There are a number of forces driving it up," Comey said,
Including the high price and limited amount of crude oil.
Traders face further pressures, since the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced its output.
Nen'ousness among energy traders about political conditions in some oil-producing countiles also adds to the cost of
oil, Comey-said.
•
^ Nevada is subject to price fluctuation because It's an isolated
market, whereas the rest of the nation "has a system of veins
and arteries" to transport gas. The Silver State's closest supply
source is Southern California, added Comey.
Despite record high gas prices, AAA projects 300,000 Nevada residents will travel 50 miles or more this weekend.
About 241,000 Nevadans will likely travel by motor vehicle
while 42,000 plan to fly.
Nationwide, AAA estimates 36.9 million people will take a
trip this weekend.
Many Henderson residents said they 're not letting the high
prices interfere with their road plans, but are disappointed
they have to reconsider how many trips they can take.
"It's upsetting. I have to think twice. Should I take a plane or
should I drive?" said Chris Vito. filling up his car at the Arco
gas station at Wigwam and Pecos where gas cost S2.26 for regular unleaded as of Monday. Across the street, regular unleaded cost S2.29 at the Shell gas statioa Elsewhere in Henderson,
'..tH
mmmm
a Chevron gas station at Eastern and Serene avenues has gas at
$2.25 for regular unleaded.
Vito, who is driving to his brother's wedding in Scottsdale,
Ariz., with his wife and three children this Memorial Day weekend, said driving was less expensive than purchasing airline
tickets. But he said he would consider flying to farther destinations to avoid the headaches of paying for fextra gas.
Comey expects the prices to go down after Labor Day.
"It's ridiculous. Government officials and oil companies are
getting rich off of people's misery," said David Kline, who was
also stopping for gas at Chevron.
Kline pays for gas up to three times a week and doesn't fill
up his whole tank because "the price is so high."
However, ICline said it wouldn't stop him from going where
he wants to go. "I like to travel. But it's not right. It's unfair to
everybody."
Locals don't like shopping around for gas either.
—ArtheSpSedeeMart on Hori/on Ridge and Arroyo Grande,
gas is $2.29, but Solange Turner said she would rather fill up
wherever is closest to her house instead of wasting gas to find
the best bargain. When ti-aveling to California in her Mitsubishi
Montero, Turner said she pays $80.
When driving around Henderson, Turner said she tries to
stay in the same area to do all her errands andIill&upilOt€
'ISfrrCtiTth of gas"a week.
Comey said most drivers could not significantiy reduce the
amount of fuel they use.
"When prices go up, a lot of people don't have any realistic
alternatives. They have to pay," Comey said.
According to AAA the most populv driving destinations
during Memorial Day weekend for Nevadans are: Yellowstone
National Park, Salt Lake City, Reno and Denver.
Tips for moloriste:
• stop every two hours or 100 mites to stretcti your legs and take a t)reak.
• If your car does not specifically require high-octane fuel, stick with regular unleaded and save money.
• Bring plenty of bottled water, snacks and juices.
• Carry emergency items such as flashlights, jumper cables and a ceM
phone. Oont tallt on the phone white driving, however. Buckle up and by ••
means do not drive under ttte influence.
fcDim cMMrtn in twifuitable CWhes and bring pWlows and blaniats.
Ai^tnhnMmy, a News stt^ writer, can be naOtti 0(990-2659.