Letter from Kay Yamashita to Pooh, November 1, 1942

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November 1, 1942

Saturday aft.

Dear Pooh,

Gosh was it swell to hear from you! Nope I haven't forgotten you - but

life has been one busy, horrible day since Jast I saw you. It's Saturday, with

my first afternoon off - so I'm trying to write to just everyone.

Say I can't fifgure it out - I thought I wrote to you all there at the Sakai

house on October 13 th and your letter dated Oct 22nd mentions nothing of it so

methings I must have sent it to the wrong address, since I lost my adteess book

and sort of guessed at the address. (Excuse my typing - just haven't typed for

so long) I have the carbon here so I'll send it on 6 you, but it was originally

addressed to Betty and Joe. Gaara ae Y,, ie

FE, Adan, of. cent

X

It's grand to hear you were able to spend such lovely days with Sam -- here's

hoping you can get away for many more of them.

I have been Soxkding like mad since the first week here - first voluntarily

helping doing every imanginable thing in the line of social service - and then I

got yanked in as a full-time worker, later to be assigned in Youth Counseling.

The Counseling service was set up primarily to help the High School, bunch in

planning their curricula and too delinquent cases etc. but it's rather turned out

to be a Student Reloagation headquarters or something. There are quite a number

who are interested in going on to school - most of them are being held back because

of their finances --- The Employment head here is a very understanding fellow

who is most anxious to help in any way - so I've worked out a deal with him whereby

a student recommended through our office is given first chance at any lucrative

employment offers from the outside. Many are out now doing all sorts of work,

mostly on nearby farms and in and around Provo - some have written back to tell

us they are quite sure they will be able to make enough to enable them to apply to

be released in the Spring.

Incidentally I've written a number of letters of inguiry to the *.S.R.C. and

have received no replies --- please have Joe Goodman and the others read this letter

too or mention the fact that 1'm very anxious to getcentg some answers on the questions.

I have been writing most of the letters that have gone out of here on Student

Relocation signed by George LaB aregue. I would really appreciate it - if you folks

there would help me by sending suggestions on how I could be of help. Mr. Lafabregue

has been hounding me ~ by telling me to organize a complete Student Relocation Dept.

and to write to you folks about everything for the students -- but knowing how you

folks worked out there and knowing very little myself about the recent developments.

etc. I merely advised the students to write to you folks personally - I still

think the way you folks have been functioning and the personal touch and bond you

have built up between-the student andthe Coyncil is most valuable.

Mr. Lafabregue is a firm believer in Student Relocation and wants to push it

as much as possible -- I have as per instructions kept a record of every student

who has come in to see me about student reloaction. Mr. Blaisdell, who was here

a -coupleof week ago gave us much encouragement. JI am very much wrapped up in my

work and raring to go but would be much happier if someone connected with the

Council would send -me a line on what I should do and shouldn't.

I had the pleasure of meeting informally at the apartment of Mr. Lafabregue

the other night, a Mr. Marks (Assistant to Mr. Province of the Washington, WRA)

who seems to have much to do with Student Relocation, at least he ikmew the answers.

He gave me the most recent list of those schools approved by the Army and Navy

dated October 14th --- it certainly is encouraging to know that so many schools have

been opened. He encouraged us to help as many sthdeikuxsxpossibie students as

possible get out and too painted a very "optomistic picture for the future of this

movement.

* Caleb is scheduled to visit here on the 8th - I just got a Visitor's Pass off

. `to him through a F.0.R. member in Salt Lake City ~ I didn't know of his coming until

a girl friend of mine came in here distressed about finding him accomdations. T+

z .( just-hoping-the-gai-remembers-to_give-it-to-im. 1111 see that soemone gets out to

Delta to meet him.

The FOR group has been slow in getting started since the leaders have been so

3 ` busy just helping get some of the essentials done ~ we're finally sure that everyone

: 3 has a roof over his head and that winterizing is well on its way. I'm really just

thrilled over the fact a Mary McMillian - a returned teacher from Japan refently and

~ one who worked at our Methodist Church in Oakland while attending Cal last year

| has finally been procured to teach here at the High School - is a FOR member and is

= | rarin to help us get started. She's a close friend of the family -- speaks beauti-

ful Japanese, knows just everyone etc. So we've got loads of plans in the way of FOR.

We had eur first snow fall last Tuesday - heavens the first time 1've seen snow

really fall. T'was a beautiful sight but lordy me cold! Honest to gosh we've been

working in a office with no stove and with the temp so low that our ink is frozen

stiff -- we've been compelled to keep our gloves on to write. For we, Californians,

this cold is no joke and I shudder to think the thousands of people who really are

not prepared to stand such cold and can't afford to buy adequate clothing ~- $16

isn't adequate in some familiges, where there are children - the clothing grants are

not sufficient to take care of all of their needs.

To top it all we've had more trouble getting coal - with the temp below freezing

, Many are still not provided with a stove and those that have, have had no coal since

the contractor has had trouble getting transporeation in getting the stuff here. T'is

really sad. Forced to come to a place, desolate and miles from nowhere - we're ab--

Solutely at the mercy of the elements and everything else.

Wallin

AwINME and

|

.

Education is hawing its headaches in not being able to get enough teachers to

come to teach here - some who have come are grand people and then again a few are real

lemons. How I wish we could have a fellow like Joe, but +'m afraid he would be just

too good. Would Joe be still interested in coming to a place like this to teach?

tixtheyxnadx As yet they have been unable to start - for lack of organization, a

place to have the school since the school itself it not built yet and they are having

| s- to use barracks sorely needed for housing, and lack of stoves and coal with the temp

Pe go low its even been impossible. to have school in the afternoon.

oo If you get a hold of one of our Topaz Times, now a daily news sheet, don't believe

? om all - it's highly censored - about as much as our Tanforan newspaper was -- they're

afraid to let anything unpleasant or detrimental to the administration out.

Oman A 4

Ce th tee

| - s We're sorely lacking man-power of a certain kind here now, since many have gone

out for farm labor -- and so the organizational machinery hasn't been able to function.

3 There has been much discussion on the pros and cons of permitting ptople to go out in

such large numbers to work since it almost cripples the machinery of the Camp and I

Seiecteeiatnee er amen

S doubt if this place will ever be developed if such is the case. The sorry part of

XO it is, that this farm-labor work is merely seasonal and those who go out will have to

return to live here. The situation exists herenow where the more social-minded indi-

f vidual is left holding the bag since the more able-bodied materialistic individual is

rushing out to work leaving all his dependents behind to be cared for somehow - e.g.

F winterizing of barracks being done by old men and volunteers working extra hours to

) put double walls in homes where the able-bodied have left to work.

P Methinks farming will never be done on a large scale since it is more lucrative to

| work on the outside and therefore we will never be self-sufficient here - perhaps

we can change all this in the future.

, _ Idealistic me, has been very disappointed about many things - but +'ve come to

) 3 realize too, that the gzoup was forced into a situation like this and since it is not

a voluntary group coming here to work things eut emmpekkiveiy cooperatively - it's

pretty darn hard to get them to thinking in terms of co-op living.

~~

o

I guess it's enough for today - please give my love to all - especially

to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Conard and Tom Bodine - I appreicate them more each day for their

untiring efforts have made Student Relocation a reality.