Ken Teromoto
The Red Mountain Ranch Social Club, in addition to enjoying various social and entertaining activities, tries to include informative guest speakers at its meetings, and on Thursday, Feb. 9, Red Mountain Ranch resident Ken Teromoto was such the guest.
In the spring of 1942, with only three weeks notice, Ken, along with his mother and a deaf sister, were forced from their California home. They were moved at first to a Civilian Assembly Center, at the Santa Anita Racetrack, in Arcadia, Calif., then to a camp in Jerome, Ark., for more than one year. Finally, they were moved to Poston, Ariz., before their final release just before the end of World War II.
All of this was under the mandate of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The objective was to exclude all people of Japanese ancestry from the entire West Coast of the United States immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in December of 1941. This came from a fear that all Japanese, regardless of age or sex, constituted a threat to the country.
The initial relocation center was housed in the stables at Santa Anita. These two-room stables became temporary homes with cots and makeshift furniture. Food and sanitary areas were created on the racetrack grounds.
Eventually moved by train to Jerome, Ark., the family was housed in military-like barracks in very crowded areas, allowing for little privacy. Again, food and sanitary facilities met less than minimal standards. Education of the interned children was barely basic, with large groups of children and few teachers.
Throughout this ordeal, Ken’s mother imparted a sense of adventure to her children, harboring no ill will or bitterness toward the government.
After about 18 months, they were transferred to Poston, Ariz., until their final release. They then moved to New Jersey, where they lived and continued their education.
It took a long period of almost 40 years before President Jimmy Carter, in 1980, ordered an investigation into this internment. Then, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan ordered remuneration of $20,000 to each person incarcerated in these camps. This was based on the decision that the civil liberties of these citizens were violated. It was determined they were singled out because of their race and not because of any danger posed to the country.
The backgrounds of our neighbors can be very interesting if we just get to know them.
Visit the Red Mountain Ranch Social Club on the second Thursday of the month, at 9:30 a.m., at the country club, located just off E. Redmont Drive, and get to know your neighbors.