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Testimony of Mr. Ginzo Murono
Provided to
The Commission of Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians Act
November 24, 1981

"My name is Ginzo Murono, a naturalized U.S. citizen currently residing in Bridgeton, N.J., with my wife Hisako. During World War II I was taken from Lima, Peru and brought to the United States where I spent the next 3 years and 8 months in 2 internment camps. I am grateful for the opportunity of describing the events of my internment experience to this Commission.

On Sunday, January 6, 1983, my wife, 4 year old daughter and infant son spent the afternoon at the seashore with the family of my business partner.

Around 7 p.m. after having dinner together, we drove to my partner's home where 2 Peruvian men in plain clothes were waiting for him to return. The 2 men asked for my partner, who promptly identified himself. They explained that by order of the United States my partner was to go with them. He entered their car and they drove off. About one hour later, the same thing happened to me.

We were all taken to the small basement of a police station where about 60 other Japanese had already been detained.

No one could sleep that night because of the crowded conditions, cigarette smoke and heat. There were no chairs or beds; only a cement floor. We could not lay down because there wasn't enough room.

Early next morning we were loaded onto 3 open trucks and told we were being taken to an unknown destination. We found out later this was to be Talara, the northern most port of Peru. The trip, which took 2 days under a hot sun, was a terrible one. No meals were provided during the journey.

It was during this trip that Ibegan to feel the complete separation from the peaceful family and social life I had in Peru. Without committing any wrong, and without even a hearing, our individual rights had been taken away from us.

When we arrived at Talara, there was a ship waiting for us. I learned only recently that the name of the ship was the Frederick C. Johnson, an American flagship.

As we boarded, our pencils, pens, knives and razor blades were taken from us by U.S. officers. We were put into the bottom of the ship where we were given 2 meals a day during the trip to San Francisco which lasted approximately 3 weeks.

After a few days in San Francisco, we were placed on a train and taken to Kennedy Internment Camp in Texas. This camp was for single men only. I spent about 6 months at Kennedy before being transferred to Crystal City Internment Camp in Crystal City, Texas. It was here I was reunited with my family. My wife had applied for admission to the U.S. through the Spanish Embassy in Peru.

The application was approved and in late June, 1943, my wife, daughter and son left our home and business in Lima and boarded a Chilean ship for their two week trip through the Panama Canal to New Orleans. After a two day train trip to Crystal City, our family was reunited in July in 1943.

The camp in Crystal City was mainly for internees with families. There were about 3,000 Japanese and also an unknown number of Germans. Of the Japanese, about one half were from Peru and the other half from the U.S.

Inside the camp we were allowed to elect our own officials and manage our schools, post office, stores, general supply distribution and garbage collection. Everyone who worked in the camp was paid an hourly wage of 10 cents per hour. We were also given freedom of religion and the right to conduct meetings. We managed to set up a rather efficient society within the barbed wire and guarded confines of the camp.

On August 15, 1945, a long siren sounded. The war was over and peace had finally come. However, it was not until August of 1946, after 3 years and 8 months of detention, that we left the camp to accept job offers from Seabrook Farms in Seabrook, N.J.

Life in Seabrook was not easy, especially for those with small children. During the peak harvest season we were required to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Because we were classified as illegal aliens by the U.S. Immigration office, we had to pay a significantly higher income tax than U.S. citizens.

I could not support my family of 5 on my income alone. As a result, my wife had to go to work also, leaving the care of our 2-year old camp born son to a child care center.

We struggled for over 30 years to provide for our family and educate our 3 children. During that time, with the exception of our youngest son who is a natural born U.S. citizen, we have all become naturalized citizens. We are all very proud to be Americans of Japanese ancestry. However, we cannot ignore the injustice that was done to us.

Some of the people from Peru who were interned with me were separated from their families for many years.

In a few cases, the broken families were never reunited.

Many people are still suffereing from the psychological wounds caused by their internement of 39 years ago.

Speaking as a former internee and a citizen of the United States - the greatest country and strongest advocate of freedom and human rights in the world- I ask for acknowledgement of the injustice and hope that such an event will never again be repeated in the future."

This exhibit was researched and designed by Alexis Frances Murono.

Background: (http://www.scu.edu/SCU/Programs/Diversity/prewar.html)

The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.