Title:
Letter from Paul H. [Kusuda] to [Afton] Nance, 1943 May 4Creator:
Kusuda, Paul H., 1922-Subject:
"Nance, Afton Dill "Japanese Americans-- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Description:
Handwritten letter from Paul H. [Kusuda] to [Afton] Nance, 1943 May 4. 32 - 3 - 3 Manzanar Relocation Area Manzanar, California May 4, 1943 Dear Mrs. Nance,
Thanks for your letters of April 27th & 29th. Oddly enough, they both arrived on the same day. You must have been quite
busy and stuff for a while, but of course you are now settling back into your routine. I’ll bet that each time you see Johnny,
you spoil him a little more. By the time he’s grown, he’ll probably be a spoiled rascal. Oh well - these doting aut aunts
cannot be expected to do otherwise, I suppose. So far, I have not heard from the Hostel in Chicago. However, I did receive
an encouraging note from Miss Esther Rhoads who says that an invitation should be forthcoming. In fact, according to her
letter, an invitation from the Hostel should have been in my hands some time ago. While she was in the East, she spoke to
Joseph Conrad Brown of the Friends about my case. Subsequently, she also sent a letter. A few days ago, I sent letters
to WRA Relocation Officers in Cleveland and in St. Louis inquiring about employment. It was at that time that I included
your name as reference. If I should hear from either of the offices before the Chicago Friends Hostel, I shall scoot out
of here. I have asked for some type of war work on the basis of my two years engineering work while I was at L.A.C.C. For
second choice, I listed clerical work. After working for an indefinite period of time, I hope to continue my schooling to
prepare for Post War Work. Consequently, for the time being, going to formal school is a little out of the question - until
I can save a little of that “green stuff.” I have thought a little about going to Antioch College, but I understand that
only a very few Nisei will be accepted there. A few have gone already. Perhaps, I shall look into that deal again a little
later. You speak of Bob Emerson. I have not met him because we move in different circles, so to speak. He is with the
Guayule Project while I am very much out of touch with it. Perhaps, someday I shall meet him. Thanks for offering to stake
me to some more money. I am sure that I shall not need any more. The WRA has instituted a procedure whereby those who need
money to assist in relocation may apply for cash grants. As I understand it, this grant covers the entire minimum transportation
costs to the destination plus $50 to tide a person through the first month. In my case, that will amount to about $100, I
guess. That will be a great help indeed. A couple of days ago, I received a scribbled note from Shiz. According to him,
Chicago is becoming another Los Angeles in the matter of Japanese faces congregating in masses. Apparently, the Nisei cannot
learn a lesson from the evacuation. They are banding together again as they did before the War started. It certainly is
a discouraging sign. Shiz wound up his letter by saying that if I went to Chicago, I would be heading towards “a hell of
a mess.” Shiz is living in a district which is not too near the place where the Nisei seem to be congregating; therefore,
he has been out-of-touch with the general run of relocatees. Well - if I get to Chicago, if I obtain employment there, if
I have to stay there - I shall live in an apartment with Shiz. We decided to live together because that would be cheaper
for us both. On the other hand, I may not have to stay in Chicago. Pe Perhaps, I may be able to try some other community.
If I should find employment in come other place, I might be able to go to another location. The only way that anyone may
leave a Center for relocation is to have a job offer (which has been cleared through the WRA) or an invitation from a recognized
Hostel. The recent hysteria about the Tokio flyers’ deaths has not affected relocation plans. As far as I have heard, the
attitude of communities have not changed drastically. Of course, such a thing is difficult to ascertain except by personal
experiences of some Nisei, but it is safe to say that the hysteria on the West Coast on that matter (as well as in other matters
regarding Japanese) was more marked than elsewhere in the country. Thank you for enclosing the letter from “Love, Grace”
It was very interesting and I am now very eager to read what she wrote. By the way, are you going East? When? Where? Why?
I don’t remember any “squelching” which I have done, but I wouldn’t doubt that. I am apt to do that to friends of mine.
Some day I shall get my head bashed in for what I say. Cordially, Paul H. “☺☺☺☺☺”☺☺ P.S. When you
write to Shizuka Oye next, please send her my letter which I have enclosed. PK
Publisher:
Japanese American National MuseumDate:
1943 May 4Type:
text;Format:
1 item ( 4 p. letter) ; sheet 26 x 20 cm.Identifier:
JANM_0292001.175.51
Language:
engRelation:
Coverage:
Manzanar (Calif.);Rights:
Copyrighted;All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Hirasaki
National Resource Center at the Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).
Japanese American National Museum
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