Daniel Hirabayashi, 1928-2016

Summary

In this emotional episode of *Andy Faner Presents*, Daniel Hirabayashi, an 88-year-old Japanese-American, reflects on his harrowing experiences in internment camps during World War II. Born in Washington in 1928, Daniel shares how, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, his family was forcibly relocated to several camps, including Tule Lake and Heart Mountain. Despite the hardships and injustice, Daniel's story highlights moments of resilience and togetherness. After the war, he built a successful life, including service in the U.S. Army and running a business. Daniel passed away in 2016, but his poignant narrative remains a testament to survival and strength.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daniel Hirabayashi was born on July 18, 1928, in Thomas, Washington, and grew up on a small truck farm with his family.
• 😀 At 14 years old, Daniel vividly remembers hearing the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and its immediate impact on Japanese Americans.
• 😀 Following the attack, over 100,000 Japanese Americans, including Daniel's family, were forcibly relocated to internment camps by the U.S. government during WWII.
• 😀 Daniel's family was first sent to the Pineale relocation camp in Fresno, California, before being moved to Tule Lake in California, and then to a camp in Wyoming.
• 😀 Despite the harsh conditions of the internment camps, including overcrowded barracks and guards with guns, Daniel and his family maintained a strong bond and a sense of normalcy.
• 😀 Life at Tule Lake was difficult, but Daniel recalls sharing meals with his family, and sometimes enjoying Japanese food prepared by the camp.
• 😀 The internment camps were heavily guarded with watchtowers, and there were instances when guards fired at people who got too close to the fence.
• 😀 At the age of 15, Daniel lied about his age to get a job delivering coal for $8 a month, which was a valuable source of income at the time.
• 😀 After the war ended, Daniel's family relocated to Minneapolis, where his father worked as a pastry cook and his mother in a garment factory.
• 😀 Daniel later served in the U.S. Army for two non-combative years, attended college under the GI Bill, and went on to open a service station and a Japanese restaurant, Taste of Japan, in the 1980s.

Q & A

What was Daniel Hirabayashi's early life like before World War II?

Daniel Hirabayashi was born in 1928 in Thomas, Washington, just outside Seattle. His parents were truck farmers, working on a 21-acre farm. Life was difficult, and the family worked long hours from sunrise to sunset, especially during harvest time.

How did Daniel Hirabayashi first hear about the attack on Pearl Harbor?

Daniel was 14 years old when he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. He had just returned home from church when the news broke, and he initially did not know where Pearl Harbor was but quickly learned its significance.

What was the government’s response to the attack on Pearl Harbor regarding Japanese-Americans?

In response to the attack, the U.S. government decided to forcibly relocate over 100,000 Japanese-Americans, both citizens and non-citizens, from the West Coast to internment camps. This action was taken because the government considered the West Coast a potential combat zone and suspected some Japanese-Americans might pose a security risk.

What were Daniel’s thoughts when he was sent to the internment camp?

At the time, Daniel was confused and upset by the relocation. He was a U.S. citizen, and the decision to relocate him and his family felt unconstitutional. He questioned why the guns were pointed at them for protection, rather than aimed outward toward any potential enemy.

Can you describe the living conditions in the internment camps?

Life in the internment camps was difficult. Families were housed in army barracks, often with many people in one small unit. There were guard towers and barbed wire fences around the perimeter. The camps were not conducive to normal living, and while food varied, they sometimes had Japanese meals, though often ate spaghetti and other non-Japanese dishes.

What was the reason for the frequent shooting incidents at the camps?

Occasionally, guards would fire shots at individuals who came too close to the fences. It’s unclear whether they were aiming at potential escapees or other threats, but the presence of guard towers and armed guards created an atmosphere of constant surveillance and tension.

How did Daniel Hirabayashi cope with life in the camps?

Daniel coped by focusing on his family and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. He worked as a coal delivery person in Heart Mountain, Wyoming, and later took a job working on a farm in Illinois. Despite the hardships, he did not let the experience embitter him and always appreciated the opportunities that came after the war.

What did Daniel do after being released from the internment camp?

After his release, Daniel served two non-combat years in the U.S. Army. He later used the GI Bill to attend college and pursue further opportunities. He eventually opened a Pure Oil service station and a Jeep dealership in Barrington, Illinois, and co-founded a restaurant called Toos, Taste of Japan, in the mid-1980s.

How did Daniel’s family adjust after the war?

After the war, Daniel’s parents and younger brother moved to Minneapolis, where his father worked as a pastry cook, and his mother worked in a garment factory. Daniel joined them in Minneapolis, but his experience in the internment camps left him with no bitterness toward the past.

What was Daniel’s attitude towards the internment camps and the impact they had on his life?

Despite the hardships he endured, Daniel Hirabayashi was never bitter about his time in the internment camps. He viewed the experience as something that shaped his life but did not define it. He believed the war actually provided him with the opportunity to leave the farm and experience life outside of it, and he appreciated the subsequent opportunities he had.