Oral History W - Z

WAEGELL FAMILY

MARGARET, GEORGE, JAMES AND JACK

Four Oral Histories of these Waegell siblings are in this one book of 19 pages of photos and 112 pages of text with that of George taking up 47 pages. Etsu Yui interviewed Margaret in 1991 and the remaining three were done by Hatano in 1994.

The father Joseph Waegell migrated from Alsace-Lorraine in 1910 to Sacramento . The mother, Margaret Tiessen, was born in England and came to Sacramento via San Francisco and married Joseph in 1912. They settled into farming on Eagles Nest Road area where all five children were born and where the four youngest currently reside in retirement.

The Oral Histories mention many Japanese American neighbors and classmates in the local elementary and high school. George (68) mentions writing letters on behalf of Redress. He served 19 months of a 3-year sentence at McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary for refusing to serve in the military. Margaretís (69) text mentions helping Internees with resettlement. She was a teacher in the elk Grove High School and Sacramento Unified School District . James (68, twin of George) mentions involvement in mo-chi making with several families. Jack (66) talks of Nisei classmates as ìsmall and smartî and shopping at Takeharaís store.

All felt the forced incarceration of the Japanese Americans was wrong. They were at the railroad station to see the internees off.

HIDEKO WAKITA

Short Oral History of Issei widow (83) of four pages of photos, 19 of text, and 20 pages of biography by interviewer. Wakita was brought to America by grandmother at age ten. Attended Sierra School and mentions difficulty learning English. Father already in Florin; died in 1991 and mother died in Japan 1933 at 52 years. Family raised grapes and went into raising beef cattle, which was more profitable. Had three daughter and eight grandchildren. Interned in Jerome and Gila River Relocation camps. Several generations of mater families to preserve the name Wakita.

MASA YAMAMOTO

Dr. Yamamoto (72), Kibei, is lengthily interviewed about a wide range of topics. He is Kibei but claims to be more Issei and studied English even when taking pre-med and medical courses. There are 6 pages of photos, 114 pages of text and 3 of documents. Text covers education, medical education, marriage, practice of medicine and sports in America of self and family and comparisons to such in Japan . In America , winning is most important, but in Japan emphasis is on honor and respect. He volunteered as the High School football physician for several years and was the local judo physician at their major events. He taught Kendo for most of his adult life.

SHIRLEY YATES

All Internees and the Japanese American community greatly appreciate the support and friendship of Non-Nikkei such as Mrs. Yates. Now age 72, she was the young wife of Jesse Gregg, Associate Chief of Internal Security at Poston , AZ relocation center. Born and raised in rural Ohio , she knew nothing of Japanese Americans. In this Oral History, she recalls being a little apprehensive during her first days living in the Poston camp. After some effort and in time, she overcame this and finally reached an understanding and appreciation of the Internees and Japanese Americans as real friends to this day. Widowed, she became Mrs. Yates in 1959 and is retired in Placerville , CA .

CHIYO YOGI

Those who feel wronged and subjected to all sorts of hardships during WW II in one of ten relocation camps will get a different feeling after reading this Oral History of Chiyo Yogi of Roseville , California . Born in Maui , Hawaii , Mrs. Yogi (86) spent the war years in Okinawa . This Oral History is the result of a combination of her husband Tatsuseiís diary and her recollections of her personal and family experiences during the intense battle of Okinawa . They were constantly on the move, seeking refuge in caves, huts, and bushes, trying to seek protection from air raids and frequent rains. She tells of going days on a diet of sugar cane, raw potatoes with horsemeat now and then, and the death of her grandfather and son Takenobu.

MATSUYE YOKOI

Aged (90) Issei widow interviewed in Japanese. Oral History book consists of 3 pages of photos and 40 pages of text. Pre-war and post-war years are spent in Mayhew area of East Sacramento raising grapes and strawberries. Familyís property was left in care of Caucasian neighbor during WW II while they were in Poston Relocation Center . She mentions having 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Two sons served in the U. S. Army. She enjoys the Buddhist Church and attends regularly., even at age 90.

HARRY YOSHIMURA

Issei widower (89) with good command of English and Japanese. There are three pages of photos, 46 of text, and 19 pages of Japanese documents not captioned/explained. Most of contents is about ìshiginî (poetry in Japanese chanted) throughout the book and especially pages 17-33. He is the master teacher and initially learned it in Tule Lake Internment Camp along with "senryu" (Japanese poetry). Shigin and Senryu require knowledge of Japanese language and culture. Prewar, he is in Portland , Oregon doing various kinds of work. Postwar spent in Northern California and especially around Penryn raising fruits; now retired in Sacramento .