"It isn't a Japanese Internment Camp, a Japanese Internment camp is where the kept people in Japan. A Japanese American Internment camp is much different. This word is important because America locked up their own citizens on their own soil just because we looked like the enemy."
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Housing
In April 1942, the Japanese were relocated to 10 remote camps scattered across the western front. Each relocation center held about 10,000 internees. The Japanese were housed in barracks. Often, entire families would live in one room cells. While sizes varied between camps, most cells were 15x20 feet to 24x20 feet. Each unit or apartment was designed to shelter families with eight people living in the largest unit. In some locations, the temperatures were extreme. Due to the poor construction of the camps, many had an even harder time adjusting to the camps. In the summer, the heat was sweltering; and usually brought dust along with it. One internee recalled, "Inside of our houses, in the laundry, in the latrines, in the mess halls, dust and more dust, dust everywhere." During the harsh months in winter, were just as difficult. At Heart Mountain in the northern region of Wyoming, temperatures would drop to 30 degrees below zero.
Education
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Food and HealthMost of the hospital's staff were Japanese Americans living in the camps. Free medical/dental was provided. Those who requested procedures or treatments that were not available in the camps were required to pay for services. Food courts or a mess hall held about 200-300 people. Meals were held three times a day. Food shortages happened very frequently. The Japanese began to grow their own produce and raise farm animals.
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Our Journey To Topaz |
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We visited the Topaz Internment Camp during spring break. While visited the museum, we observed the various art forms the internees created while living inside the camps. While there we also visited the site where the camps and learned a lot more in depth on Japanese American Internment camps. As we were driving to the camp sites and the Topaz museum, we noticed how rural and empty this part of the state was. While visiting the Topaz campsites, were able to empathize even more with the Japanese Americans.
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