Title:
Letter from Paul H. [Kusuda] to [Afton] Nance, 1942 Sep13
Creator:
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, 1942 September 13.
September 13, 1942 Dear Mrs. Nance:-- So you moved again. What sort of a person am I corresponding with? First, she
bakes a lot of super-duper cookies, then she folds up her tent and moves back to a beach-site. My goodness – are you a nomad
or something? Oh, that’s right – you aren’t a nomad – you’re a school principal. Well, well – Congratulations! You’re
the first principal with whom I have ever corresponded. I must say – it’s novel. I never dreamed that I would ever be on
good terms with a grammar school principal! Will wonders ever cease? Incidentally, thanks for bothering about my friend
in Utah. I haven’t heard any-thing from her as yet; I haven’t told her anything about your writing as yet; however, I am
glad to know that you will write to her. You see – I’ve always been sort of a Dutch Uncle or something to her for about three
years, so it’s a comfort to know that you’ll help. Well – we received some clothing at last! The following articles are
now MINE! – One P-jacket – heavy, black, warm (Navy-style, I think) One army summer jacket. It’s sort of like a wind-breaker.
All the buttons have been stripped from the coat since (I believe) they bore Army insignias. Now, I am waiting for the Dry
Goods Canteen here to get a stock of buttons to fit the jacket. Many people have ordered buttons from Sears Roebuck + Monkey
(Montgomery) Ward, and now they are wearing the jackets. One pair of wool britches. I don’t think that I shall wear them.
Can you image how I would look in them with my bow-legged appearance? Stop – that’s enough! Some people are wearing them
with leather boots, so it looks presentable anyway. One army pull-over hat which can cover the ears. I guess this must
be a leftover from some former army engagement – perhaps Custer’s Last Stand or something. Anyway, “it’s a killer”! Many
people are wearing these “thing” too. Perhaps, I’m conservative. I’m going to wear it if I have to – if it gets too cold
for my ears. One size 42 LARGE undershirt. I don’t know what to do with it. I suppose that I could use it for a night-shirt
anytime I so felt and yet --. I think that I shall just hang on to it for a while. By now, I guess you can imagine how
a person looks when he wears the entire outfit. It’s a scream. With many of the people wearing the funny looking hats (which
resembles an over-seas cap which was worn by the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War) and the britches with high-top boots,
and the wind-breaker jackets, it looks like a foreign army in Manzanar. The people don’t look very much like soldiers because
their bearing is all against them; however, if one strains his imagination far enough, there’s a resemblance! In some cases,
it’s rather frightening. Hope I never see the real stuff! Thus far, only those who have been working have received these
clothes. Soon, the rest of the male populace will be so-equipped. The women haven’t received anything yet. As soon as the
garment factory gets under way, I understand that dresses and coats will be given out. I hope that this happens soon. There
was another committee meeting of the Manzanar Citizens Federation. It looks as though the entire organization will fold up
soon. Well – it was fun while it lasted. Cordially, Paul H.
Publisher:
Japanese American National Museum
Date:
1942 September 13
Type:
text
Format:
1 item ( 6 p. letter ) ; sheet 20 x 12 cm.
Identifier:
JANM_093
2001.175.29a
Language:
eng
Relation:
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
Letter from Paul H. [Kusuda] to [Afton] Nance, 1942 Sep13