"Weekly reports of John A. Trice, reports officer"

Weekly Reports- (Oct 31, 1942 to Feb 8, 1943)
---//----

1942
Nov 7 - 1. Evacuees need personal property stand on West Coast.
2. Evacuees cooperative.
3. 22 teachers added to staff.

Nov. 14- 1. School opened with 200 pupils- little equipment and
too few teachers
2. Clothing issue made by Mr. Alexander
3. Evacuee shot by deer hunter. Recommendations
made by Evacuee Committee
Nov. 21- 1. Wood cutting
2. Chairs arrived for school

Nov. 28- 1. Shortage of Trucks; office equipment a problem
2. C.A. section active in sponsoring social events
with 5000 to 2000 attendance each week. Morale
good

Dec 5- 1. Aperatives manual

Dec 12- 1.

Dec 19- 1. McGehee Rotaries and wives visit
2. Christmas programs and tree in each mess hall
planned.
1941
3. 750 evacuees given passes to do Chrostmas shopping
in McGehee and surrounding towns.
4. Temporary Board of Trustees take over operation
of community enterprises
5. Personal living quarters being constructed.

Dec 26- 1. Big Christmas Celebration- Trees- gifts, etc. American
Friends Service furnished gifts- Com. Services disbanded
2. Total of 1477 shopping passes during Xmas season
-- 1943--

Jan 2- 1. Populat 8447
2. Big Japanese New Years Celebration
3. Scouts hold Court of Honor- outside visitors

Jan 9- 1. Work returns to normal
2. First fire- 12 damage

Jan 16- 1. 4500 signified willingness to become share-
holders in Rohwer Coop Enterprises
2. Unique handcraft exhibit in P.S. Hall 26
1943

Jan 23- 1. October clothing allowance of $17,000 paid to
2500 persons.
2. Timber worker killed by tree
3. Marked increase in indefinite leans
4. American Legions Posts in 2 neighboring towns
passed anti-Japanese resolutions.

Jan. 30- 1. Spanish consul (Jose McCarsy) visits-
seemed plased with situation here

Feb 6- 1. Plans for general registration made. Reaction
only fain.
Weekly Reports (Feb 15, 1943- Dec 8, 1945)
Digest for Project Director

1943
Week Ending Events of Significance
Feb 15 1. Population: 8467
2. Bay Scant Field Day- 65 outside, 140 center participating, with
Walter W. Head, New Pres. BSA president
3. General Registration Program- major problem- purportation

Feb 27 1. Announcement made that all evacuees over
17 are required to register. Cumpulsory (sic?)

March 6 1. Registration week- 5691 registered- 95% Little opposition

March 13 1. Successful completion of Registration (5870)
2. Dumps B&PM Club YWCA guests- mess & talen show
3. Military fneral for evacuee veteran of W. War I

March 20 1. Senator A.B. Chandlers Committee interviewed Div.
heads- Sen. Murray, and Geo. Malone- Claim 207.
displayed.
2. Representatives of WRA Employment Offices inter
viewing- prospects gord
3. First High School graduating Class (53) re-
ceived diplomas- Pres. Henderson State Teachers
College made commencement address.
1943

March 27 1. Final Tabulation on Registration (5897) none refused
to sign up
2. 16 left on group leave sheet fields in S. Dak.- first
to leave under this procedure. Intent increasing
operations begin to feel the effect of evacuees leaving
3. Red Cross Dime- $2604.00 Evacuee response
excellent
4. Shoe repairing began
5. Coop show repair shop opened.

Apr 3 1. Grants to those justified leaving for employment
increased interest
2. Red Cross drive up $3170.00
3. Center Grant Constitution approved by WRA
4. Center population 8363.

Apr 10 1. Coop Beauty Parlor opened.
2. 5 evac. girls and YWCA conference at L Rock response good

Apr 17 1. Labor trouble- changes in policy- attempt
to be more strict about working hours.
2. Gang fight in bloacks- Ford- Hawaiians
3. Little interest in Army Language School at Camp Savage

<1943
Apr 24 1. Labor trouble impared
2. Execution of American fliers in Japan announced-
practically all leanes cancelled- relocation continued

May 1 1. Population 8081
2. First car load evacuee personal property need
3. New high of 60 left for employment
4. 8 volunteers called up for induction- 3 failed physical
5. War Bond drive- appld. Pers.- sold nearly $10,000

May 8 1. 80 left on indefinite leane
2. 100 girls & Shelf, Misc for advance
3. Gov. Adkins exposes opposition to relocation
or evacuee work within state.
4. Constitution ammended to permit non-citizens to hold office

May 15 1. Women workers used on farm for 1st time
2. 31 to Crystal City, Texas
3. Appointed personnel moving into apartments

May 22 1. Shortage of doctors caused concern among evacuees
2. Constitution ratification: 3,336 for, 209 against
3. Dr. E. Stanley Jones and other in a sewing lecture
on Christianity- good
1943
4. Arts and Crafts exhibits proposed for YMCA- St. Louis
5. 75 H.S. music pupils conducted assembly
program at McGehee High School-- good matching

May 29 1. Population- 7841
2. Miss. river flood scare
3. First Rohwer evacuee confined at Leuppe, Arizona

June 5 1. Commercial Appeal- unfavorable article- Gene Rutherford
2. Jain Rhyme "beamed" evacuee with chair!!!
3. Memorial say Poppy sale- 45%; above 25% McGehee sales
4. 4190 voted for permanent Council members

June 12 1. Men with families reluctant to relocate, committee appointed
2. NYA training porogram "flopped,"- depressing effect
3. New Stones on investigating committee had bad effect
4. Interest shown in segregation

June 19 1. Issei dominate Council; also Japanese language
2. Nurses Aides failed to report to work for 6 days
3. Relocation Advisory Council met 1st time; devided
WRA must make Relocation more attactive
4. Short-wave radios banned- caused concern.
1943

June 26 1. Press Day arrangements made
2. Population- 7668
3. Editorial in Soutwest American cited

July 3 1. Press Day- 19 representatives from 12 peoples & radio stations
Results good
2. Dist. Meeting of American Legion Posts at McGehee
passed resultion requestiong restriction shoppping
3. Population- 7636

July 10 1. Relocation grants stopped- so did Relocation
2. Community Council becomes insterested in Relocation-
appointes Commitee to meet with Relocation Advisory Council
3. Spanish Counsil explains difficulty repotriatism
4. Announcement of reduction of employees
5. Judicial Commissioned functioned for 1st time
6. 14 persons interviewed on negative answers to Quetsion 78

July 17 1. Hearing continued
2. Reduction of employees under way- complaints
3. Segregation news announced- rumors

July 24 1. Decided increase in requests for representation
1943
2. Increase in requests to change from NO to YES on Guest 28

July 31 1. Project Director returned from Denver Conference- ex-
plains suggestion to Black Mgrs. and apptd personnel

2.Welfare Dept begins interviewing Tule Lake bound

3. Evacuee consider redacting employees an at--
tempt and face them & leave Center.

4. High School graduates 152 at end of 1st sch. yr.

Aug 7 1. Sharp increase in requests for re & expatriation

2. 115 in "NO" group; 600 re & expatriots

3. Segregation does not seem to hinder Relocation

4. Congressmen Harris & Norrell visit- for information

Aug 13 1. Hearing continue- Board divided into 2 groups of 2 each

2. Evacuees taking segregation calmly- well informed
by Evacuee segregation advisory committee- 1st meeting

3. 72 and Grand Juntion, Colo for for faing harvest- largest group

Aug 21 1. Hearings and segregation progress smoothly

2. Requests for repatriation and expatriation subside to normal

3. Baseball story in OUTPOST sets off caustic editorial
in MCGEHEE TIMES
1943

Aug 28 1. Preparation for those leaving on Gupsholm (63)

2. Housing survey completed

3. Relocation on upward swing

Sept 4 1. Grimpsholm people left Sun. Aug 29

2. Incident: M. Ps intercepted a note to be sent
to Japan, Arrest made, etc.

3. Plans for 1st Tule Lake Tesin about complete-
smoothe- no confusion.

4. Selected films on Relocation shown- 1500
in attendance. Care should be taken not to high-profile (sic?)

Sept 11 1. Information specialists interviewed each family
head going to Tule Lake on 1st train to explain all details

2. 55s sail on Gupsholm returned to Center- disappointed

3. Reaction not too good for Relocaiton on films shown
for that parpase.

Sept 18 1. 433 segregants deaprted for Tule Lake

2. Relocation dropped & 35 this wk.- cause: segregation.

Sept 25 1. Preparations for departure of 2nd train to Tule Lake

2. 137 of 142 appold personnel buying bonds than pay-
roll allotments. 130 cahs puchases during 3rd ward from Dime
1943

Oct 2 1. Plans for 2nd Tule Lake completed- 371 from Rohwer
and 40 from Jerome.

2. Leave clearance leavings suspended until 2nd train leaves.

Oct 9 1. Departure, 2nd train for Tule Lake- uneventful

2. Woodcutting begins

Oct 16 1. Operations normal- killing first ahead of schedule

Oct 23 1. Leave clearance hearings speeded off from 32
to 63 per wk. (To date 46 transcripts returned to
Washington,- 131 cases pending).

2. Animal of 2 doctors to hospital staff- appointed.

Oct 30 1. 42 leave clearance hearings

2. M.P. Co. leaves No. 1 to be replaces by part of
troops stationed at Jerome.

3. Fuel problem acute.

Nov. 6 1. Dispute between evacuees and Mrs. g. Coop.

2. Block Manager election

3. Annual Commemorating 1st anniversary of project com-
pleted.
1943
Nov 13 1. Trouble at Tule Lake carried in newspapers-
little effect here.

2. Investigation of Coop trouble continuing.

Nov 20 1. Leave clearance hearings still being delayed by
lack of dockets being forwarded from Wash. office

2. Segregation still handicaps Relocation

3. 3-day leadership institute.

Nov 27 1. Leave clearance hearins completed

2. Woman killed in automobile accident in truck
driven by L.A. May- no reprucussions yet.

3. Mgr of Coop and some directors regin in special
meeting called by petition.

Dec 4 1. Relocation Team arrives and schedules meetings.

Dec 11 1. Relocation team completes work. Had favorable
influence on Evacuee Relocation Commitee. No rush
toward Relocation- Christmas holidays approaching.

2. Chirstmas shopping plaus made- 12 from each block.

3. High School National Honor Society sells $3505.95
bonds and stamps- 53% participating
1943

Dec 18 1. Spanish Consul visits- no meeting of Japanese nationals

2. Budget preparation under way.

3. M.P.Co changed again- OK.

Dec 26 1. Recruiting party from Camp Savage gets 3, -4
others interested.

2. Christmas observance- all under 17 need gifts.

----------//----------------
1944
Jan 1 1. Budget preparations proceeds- Leavings stop.

2. Mild epidemic of flu

Jan 8 1. All male evacuee employees except key workers
excused to cut wood- for 2 wks.

Jan 15 1. 40 mid-term graduate at High School.

2. Coop pays just dividends- $3.12 for each $100.00
purchased-- new Coop Mgr. selected.

3. Chief Med. Officer resigns to go with U.S. Pat. Health Service

Jan 22 1. Selective Service announces Nisei subject to draft-
interest evidenced.
1944

Jan 29 1. Japanese atrocity stories announced. Passes to
McGehee curtailed. No retriction placed on leaves.

2. Selective Service- listtle shaw of apparel on
disapproval. Special Combat Team idea
decidedly unpopular.

3. 21 requests for reatriation and expatration increase.

Feb 5 1. 45 indefinite leaves, despite atrocity stones.

2. Older people in doubt of their rights under
selective service. Show more concern than
Nisei.

Feb 12 1. Many Nisei receive 1-A Classifications. Some
inquire as to grounds for exemption. Confusion

2. Interest in Relocation still on increase- some
holding back to see effects of the draft

Feb 19 1. About like last week.

Feb 26 1. 55 Nisei leave for pre-induction physicals. Re-
action normal

2. WRA transfer to Dept. of Interior- no undue comment

3. Announcement that Jerone wil close- no undue comment

4. 6 members of examinatioin of Wash. office arrive.
1944

March 4 1. Leave clearance hearing about completed. of
571 cases forwared to Wash., 255 granted clearance,
316 denied.

2. Applications for re and expatration continue busk-

3. 13 to Crystal City, Tex.

4. Rohwer USO entertains soldiers from Shelby.

Mrch 11 1. 38 of 500 who took pre-induction evacuees were
accepted by Army.

Mch 18 1. 22 of 28 accepted by Army will be inducted Mch.
28- the other 16 will be permitted to finish their
present school year. One appealed

2. Some expatriots in second group of 54 Nisei
to take pre-induction physicals. They object

3. Personal leave virtually stop before of
changes in procedure- hinders relocation

Mch 25 1. 3 repatriots failed to show up for pre-induction
physical. Delay in activity Selective Service and
Dept. of Justive believed to have detrimental effect.

2. Placing of Nisei in Enlisted Reserve Corps furhter
complicates matters.
1944
3. 735 to be in 3rd measurment to Tule Lake.

Apr 1 1. Block Census- cooperative, little resentment

2. Red Cross drive netted $2683.6 ($550.50 from
appointed personnel)

3. 10 in. rain fall in 3 da- flooded some blocks.

Apr 8 1. Population: 6141 on day of census

2. Dept. of Justice arrested the 3 expatriots who did
not appear for pre-induction physicals-
little comment on reaction caused.

Apr 15 1. Camp Shelby sponsors Easter Celebration for
1250 evacuee children- constributing of $2500 divided
between the 2 centers.

2. $108.00 added to Appld. Pers. Red Cross donation

3. 3rd segregation monument announced.

Apr 22 1. 91 take pre-induction physicals, 70 passed.
2 expatriots professed loyalty to Japan at the
pre-induction station- examined by F.B.I and returned

3. 4 in Enlisted Reserve Corps called to active duty.
Transfers for those who have left the Center difficult.
1944
3. Seabrook Farms offer boon to Relocation being holiday
4. Severe wind storm

April 29 1. Preparations for 3rd segreation movement. Housing
assignemtns for segregants made.

2. Army processing team arrived in Center

May 6 1. Segregation and army processing team continue

May 13 1. Departure of first 2 trains comprising the 3rd
segregation movement. Smooth operation.

May 20 1. Departure of second train of 2rd movement segre-
gants.

May 27 1. Summer Activities program began under
direction of Head of Com. Act.

2. Camp Shelby soldiers provide furniture for U.S.O.
and some playground equipment for Center Children

3. 154 receive diplomas at H.S. in new auditorium

4. Scrap paper drive

5. Evacuee dies from drowning
1944
June 3 1. Center-wide clean-up campaign sponsored by
Com. Council.

2. Plaus completed for transfer of 2500 from Jerome

3. Relocation radically increases

June 10 1. Transfer from Jerome starts June 6 to the com-
pleted June 17. Use of rolling equipment handi-
caps Center operations.

2. Center High School again rated "A" by State Dept. of
Education

3. Inving B. Comer dies of heart attack.
June 17 1.Housing problem acute to many
small families from Jerome- many objectives

2. 309 evacuees remain at Jerome to help in
closing activities.

3. Change in Project Attorneys

4. Selective Service transfers are numberous-
local board extremely cooperative

5. The 3 who did not report for pre-induction phy-
sicals are indicted by Federal Grand Jury

June 24 1. Jerome Transfers of evacuees complete- housing
crowded.
1944
2. Selective service continues to examine and induct

3. Day passes policy liberalized- 25 a day

4. Cencus plans made.

July 1 1. Census taken

2. California S.S. Board belays diferral of a 37 year old
man eligible for deferrment. Forced his return of Center

3. Draft age boys careless about complying
with selective service regulations.

July 8 1. Boy, 8, killed under produce truck- 1st traffic fatality

2. Day pass system works

3. 22 report to active duty at Camp Robinson on
only 48 hrs. notice.

*
Aug 26 1. Second traffic fatality in Center, Boy 5, runs into truck

2. New Prsonnel Officer arrives

3. 11% of goal satisfied in 5th War Loan Drive.

* Reports Officer was in Washington during period
between weeks ending July 8 and August 26. No reports
were submitted.
1944

Sept 2 1. Center-wide inventory making progress

2. New gate procedure working smoothly.

Sept 9 1. Fuel problem difficult on account of Relocation
and army inductions.

2. 104 seasonal workers go to Michigan- largest

3. Pre School COnference for teachers

Sept 16 1. Sioux Mountain Depot offer serves good

2. Dr. Hunter leaves

3. Schools open- shortage of teachers, especially
evacuees

4. All except key employees to cut wood 2 days
each week.

Sept 23 1. Isei turn thumbs down on Sioux Moutain
Depot offer- Nisei lake- warm

2. 1500 honeydew melons picked- crop new to this
section of state.

3. Project steward recd. induction notice

4. Memorial service for 6 Nisei soldiers
killed in Italy- sponsored by Com Council
1944

Sept 30 1. Quarterly census taken. Evacuees cooperative

2. Arder prohibiting employment of additional
appointed personnel created increasing situation

Oct 7 1. Memorial Servce for 5 Nisei soldiers reclines
favorable publicity

2. A Nisei and an Isei insepct Sioux plant- are
favorably impressed as to relocation possibilities

Oct 14 1. Only 15, more than 400 registred for work are
available for work, Employment situation critical.

2. Recruiting team rom Sioux plant came and
went away disappointed.

3. Projct Director warns personnel against predicting
when this Center will close.

4. 2 Nisei soldiers create disturbance at M.P. Canteen

5. Com. Council (largely Issei) present gifts to 7 depart-
ing inductees- indicates their interest

6. Come. Council sponsors Koh Murai in a series
of agricultural lectures.

7. New project steward arrives.

Oct 24 1. Sioux Ordinance Plant offer still goes
begging despite publicity
1944

2. Freeze in appointed personnel employment still
irritates.

3. Only one(1) personse shows up for explanatory
meeting on Sioux plant offer

4. Jas. H. Wells succeeds F.R. Manyhorn

5. C.A. sponsors Recreational Institute

6. Discussing transfer of Jerome to War Dept.

7. Joe Kamanaki draws 3-yr. sentence on draft
evasion change.

8. National USO representative visits. Requested photos
of Memorial Service to us in Public Relations
Office of the National U.S.O.

Nov 4 1. Gazette has 2nd favorable editorial in month
on Nisei Casualties

2. Com. Council is reluctant to assume re-
sponsibility in Coop robbery by 3 boys.

3. 2 men in private eterprise apprehended-
promised to quit.

4. An In-Service Training Program began
with 87 ewalleds- 2 periods per W/T

Nov 11 1. National War Fund- $625.50 (*100 more than 1945)
2. Nisei casuality figues continue to come in.

3. Private enterprise men (2) were re-apprehended,
fined and sentenced.

Nov 18 1. Jerome Project officially transferred to army

2. 78% of teachers attended Ark. Educ. Assn meeting

3. Fire Dept. responds to call at Kelso

4. 18 Nisei casualties reported

Nov 27 1. PFC Higa reassures evacuees that their
sons being treated like other units in action

2. Second cateen opeened- in block area

3. Junior Red Cross drive nets 2000 members and
$201.45

Dec 2 1. Sixth War Loan Drive already over (sic?)
of Nov 30- Over $10,000 cash and pledges in addition
to payroll deductions

2. Budget preparations began
3. Judicial Commission finally deals out a
light sentence on Coop robbery boys.

Dec 9 1. Relocation Planning Commission formed- will
act as contact group with Center residents
1944

2. Additional office space given to Relocation Dir.

Dec 16 1. Centweide Memorial Service helf for 16 Nisei
killed in France- elaborate- impressive

2. 6th War Loan Drive expected to read $25,000 cash

3. Young Neisei former making first serious
attempt to relocate in state.

Dec 23 1. Lifting the West Coast exclusion order an-
nounced- WRA policy explained and
enemy effort more to give Center-wide acclamation

2. Army interviewing team arrived- little con-
cern caused

3. Evacuees received announcement calmly- no
rush to West Coast indicated- "Wait and See" attitude

Dec 30 1. Letters of notification of clearance for over 14 being
prepared.

2. Army interviews completed- well accepted.

3. 8 families plan to leave for W. Coast about Jan. 8

4. Favorable editorials in Ar. Democrat and Com. Appeal

1945
1945

Jan 6 1. Interest in Relocation- but not to California

2. Army interviewing working on cleared list

Jan 13 1. One family leave for Calif.- New Orleans seems
favorable to evacuees.

2. Rumors spread to prevent return to West Coast

Jan 20 1. 13 go to Calif- terminal leave

2. Community Analyst designated is rumor chaser

3. Plans made to liquidate Agri Division

4. 99 H.S. seniors receive diplomas

Jan 27 1. 13 to Calif- 65 on Excluded List- 37 on Army
segregation list

2. Decrease in number of rumors

3. Farm lands sub-leased

Feb 3 1. Mr. Myers' visit- evacuees convinced of his sin-
cerity. Sars Center will close at year's end

2. Plans made to show films and encourage relocation

3. Secion and Division Leads told to begin collecting
material for final reports.
1945

Feb 10 1. About 150 families have definite plans to return
to California.

2. Many family heads leaving, which means families
will follow.

3. Council conducts survey on relocation to take to
Salt Lake City Inter-Center Conference.

4. 33 apptd personnel complete job interaction course.

Feb 17 1. Murai obtains option on 1000 A. of land in New Orleans area

2. Concern ones shortage of hospital personnel

3. Evacuees doubt that center will close.

4. Financial, housing, personal saftey- chief reasons
why majority said they couldn't or wouldn't evacuate

Feb 24 1. Nisei plan conference

2. 61 to Calif.

3. 576.80 to Infantile Paralysis Fund

Mch 3 1. Nisei held 3 day conference on relocation

Mch 10 1. Adverse publicity dampens New Orleans relocation.

2. Salt Lake City delegates report
1945

Mch 17 1. Army Appeal Team of 9 arrive

2. Four Chinese officials visit

3. R.E. Lee Wilson Co. and Michigan vegetable grower recruit

4. $3849.30 from Red Cross drive

Mch 18 1. Army appeal Team sits in broken session- hears
about one case each day

2. RE Lee Wilson Co can use 500 families

3. Rohwer gets 2 pages in McGehee Times Military Edition

4. Jean Wills and Ballard called by selective service

Mch 31 1. Special coach leaves for Calif with 60-- 80
more want to go this way in April

2. 2nd group of visitors finds fault with R.E.L. Wilson offer-
asking concession scauses friction

Apr 7 1. 3rd group goes to Wilson farms

Apr 14 1. Schools hold memorial service for Pres. Roosevelt

2. Expansion of the information program planned- R Bankem

Apr 21 1. Special Coach to Calif-- 138 indef. leaves

2. 5 families going to Wilson despite advice of 3rd group
1945

3. 40 acres purchased in La. by evacuee

4. Surplus property being made

Apr 28

Japanese American internment in Arkansas

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