Heart Mountain Internment Camp - 2018

In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, 110,000 Japanese-Americans were incarcerated behind barb wired fences in ten relocation centers.  Leaving their businesses, homes and farms with only what they could carry, they were moved by bus and rail to barracks guarded by armed military police.

Where were these "camps?"

• Colorado River (Posten), Internment Camp, Arizona
• Gila River Internment Camp, Phoenix, Arizona
• Granada (Amache) Internment Camp, Colorado
• Heart Mountain Internment Camp, Wyoming
• Jerome Internment Camp, Arkansas
• Manzanar Internment Camp, California
• Minidoka Interment Camp, Idaho
• Rohwer Internment Camp, Arkansas
• Topaz Internment Camp, Utah
• Tule Lake Internment Camp, California

With only advance notice of about a week, my mother's family was relocated to the horse stalls at Santa Anita Racetrack in Los Angeles. The previous residents of the stalls were horses, so you can imagine the living conditions. About 19,000 Japanese Americans from Northern and Southern California were housed at the racetrack in early 1942. From Santa Anita, my mother's family, along with another 14,000 Japanese Americans from temporary locations, moved by railcars with closed curtains to Heart Mountain Internment Camp, in Cody, Wyoming. It is hard to imagine living through this experience, with so many unknowns and worry for family safety.

The family arrived on September 10, 1942 and would remain in Heart Mountain until June 4, 1945. The seven member family resided in barrack 24-12-E which was a unit that could accommodate a larger family.

Life in the camps was not easy. Wyoming presented new challenges, such as dust storms, high winds, snow, extreme heat and cold, barbed wire fences and armed guards. Meals were prepared in several  kitchens located on-site and served in mess halls. Privacy for residents was an unavailable luxury as families lived in single rooms and a toilet visit meant using one in a row of the many side by side commodes - lacking any dividers. Nonetheless, life did go on with residents working to support essential services, such as medical, schools, carpentry, shoe repair and dry farming. Cultural and sporting activities, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were important to everyday life, as well. 556 babies were born at Heart Mountain and 148 people died in the internment camp.

As Heart Mountain Internment Camp began to close, between June 1945 and November 1945, the US government provided Heart Mountain Internment Camp residents $25 per person and a rail ticket out of Cody, Wyoming. Many cities and towns in Wyoming passed laws that discouraged Heart Mountain detainees from remaining in the area. With this meager financial allotment, most families returned to their original residence area, only to find that stored possessions were gone and businesses, homes and farms were lost. Many families could only find temporary residence in available WPA trailer parks.

My father did not reside in an internment camp but, instead, was a Staff Sergeant in the US Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). He enlisted in the Army on November 13, 1941. The 14,000 man 442nd RCT, composed of entirely of Japanese Americans, served primarily in the European theater during WWII. The unit was the most decorated unit in US military history, awarded 9,486 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars and 21 Medals of Honor.  4,419 members of the 442nd RCT were killed in action, wounded in action or declared missing.

With knowledge of this disappointing point in American history, we recently visited the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, in Cody, Wyoming. We are hopeful that greater understanding of this injustice will help decision making of future generations.

Arriving at Heart Mountain, 1942
Source: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Mess Hall Meals
Source: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Child Gazing Outside of Internment Camp Fence
Source: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Leaving Heart Mountain
Source: Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Entering the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Recreated Guard Tower

   

Hospital Building

Hospital Boiler Chimney

Barrack building relocated to Interpretive Center from Shell, Wyoming.
There were 467 barracks at Heart Mountain Internment Camp.

Agricultural fields have taken the place of moved/destroyed barracks.
Many barracks were sold to local farmers and ranchers for $1.
Heart Mountain is in the background.