Letter 3
name: label: Collection Donor
content: Lamboley, E. Gerald, 1915-2012
label: Collection Creator
content: Sato, Sanji (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Satow, R. (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Satow, Susama Paul (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Sato, Kiyo (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Komata, Tomi (student)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Gerald Lamboley Collection of Japanese-American Letters
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1943-01 - 1943-02
container: label: Container
content: Box 1 (Shared Box), Folder 1
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Poston Arizona

Blk. 229 Brk. 11A

Valley of the Desert Queen. (interior)                                              

1943 
Dear Miss Cox,

Desert Queen are the mesquite trees which grows in low valley around us.  In storm and in heat it grow as though all was the same, because it have its great foundation.  (Root of mesquite tree is 40' to 60' deep.)

January 1, 2, & 3

We, the residents of Poston had a very successful New Year's Exhibition.   We had an Industrial Building, Agricultural Building, Educational Building,  and Arts and Craft Building.  The Arts and Craft [building] were so crowded and extend to the outside that I didn't have the chance of going in.  We even had the zoo.  Most of the animals were a branch of the mesquite tree which was fixed a little.  There [were] some animals and reptiles as the rattlesnake, lizards, Gila monster, birds, fish, turtle, and coyote which are all the inhabitant of the region.

 January 16, 17, 18, & 19

It has been quite cold recently though it wasn't this cold.  It usually become warm for 10:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.  This morning there was about 1/2 inch of ice and it never melted.  On January 19 we had an educational movie in the Mess Hall of our school block.  And in the Mess Hall was 1/2 inch of ice on the floor and it was very slippery.  On the 20th it began to get cloudy and we had rain 21, and on the 22nd.  It really was muddy.

As I looked into the sky and at the gray morning winter cloud, I thought of the creek which flooded every winter when a storm came, and where my mother and I has desperately struggled against the flood that swept through our field on January 1942.  That year my father was away to make a winter earning and as usual a flood came and flood the field which yield our spring income.  We worked with our boots filled with water to surround the low land with mud bank.  After working in the cold, beating rain, our work was accomplished, yet there was fear of water rising.  Oh, but those days are gone forever, those days when we had our fun by working in the mud, water, and soil, where I have spent my childhood days.  But that we are in camp know, there is no work on Saturday, Sunday, and after school. But now we have the privilege of studying for the future days that is to come, for America, and to make this a better world.

Person who has little faith worries more than those who have faith. (I mean that they worries about the future).  No one person can make this a world but through cooperation from all and faithfulness can make this into a better world.
                                 
January 26, 1943

It rain today and because of the rain and muddyness of road, we couldn't go to school.  Even if it rain here in this valley, there is no wind.  I read that Sacramento had a severe storm recently.  I hope it isn't as bad as the news paper says.

A thought came to me as I thought of the dog we had, though a police took him away the day we left.  A forlorn, shivering dog cuddled under a honey suckle vine.  His tail no more stood high, but it hung low.  The rib bones were visible and his head was drooping down .  A gust of wind struck him and the rain spattered on him but the dog never moved from where he was.  A shrill cry broke the silence followed by a two short barks.  It was the dog's cry, crying for its master who never came to see for many many month.  He stood there by the door day after day for his beloved master to feed and to greet him.  The dog was dreaming of the days they had live together.  Of when his friend came running out to play with him on a bright cheery morning, but now that day never came because the house was deserted.  The master was evacuated to a land he will never know.  He crouched there whimpering with a lonesome eyes that no one will forget of how a faithful dog waits patiently for its ever lasting master.

When I was at Pinedale, I frequently strolled to the fence of our camp and stood there with a far off looking eye, staring at the Sierra far far away.  Was this the remnant of that dear dear land?  As I thought of home, tears filled my eyes.  I stood [there] pondering about the home I left and the Flag that so gracefully sailed high into the sky so blue with few clouds drifting by.  The Flag was the Flag that so proudly sailed in the yard of the little school house in the countryside, which to me was more like a home.  Sometime Someday I will be home on a farm again on the  [?] that I long for and for the Flag that I will more often see.  But somehow the world will be changed and the [environment] of the place I used to live will be changed.

One thing that is lacking in our campus is a Flag.  We have a little one on a pole in every room.  Maybe because the school room we are using now is just temporary.

Jan. 30

Today as I went to school, in middle of the campus or the block was a flag pole standing majestically above us.  The pole seemed to kiss the heaven above so high and the passing cloud.  It seemed as though it was the highest in the world which we can be proud of but the flag wasn't there no the pole so that it will brighten up the blue morning sky.

I sometime really get disgusted with what I hear.  Lot of the people in this camp doesn't have the opinion we have. Of course I can't say my father's and mine is always right.  One thing that others lack is common sense and they believe awfully lot what others say and believe in too much rumor.  I hope someday everything will be smoothed out evenly.

Peace I leave unto you, peace I give unto you.  Not as the world giveth give I unto to you.  Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 And Jesus said I am the light of the world. (John)

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger: and he that believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Feb. 18, 1943

Yesterday, all male above seventeen of age went to register for the drafting.  This registering is a test to find out if he is an royal citizen or not.  Some folks says,"Why, we don't have an freedom as the other American does.  Why should we join the arm force then."  Before we was evacuated, I pondered over this evacuation subject and said to myself thinking of what the pilgrims did.  They came to the New World in want of Freedom and they made a New Flag, though they, like us and Japanese of Japan had the same faces.  They also had lot of close relative in the Old World.  But when the colonies discovered that they must fight, they fought against it Mother Country.  Many of them (mostly Spanish) came for riches in material.  It was the same with us today that we can fight against the same face and do our best.  Some might go to the battle front but others can help in other ways.
Now that we are in camp I think it is our duty to not say we are in camp but to do the best and to show that we are Americans.

Subject                  1st quarter        2nd quarter        Semester Grade

1&2 Core Studies              B+                 A                    A
  
3 P.E.
  
4 Algebra                   C                  C                    C

5&6 Agriculture               A                  A                    A

7 Biology                   B                  A                    A

  8 Study Hall

Last semester, we did not have Physical Education and Study Hall.  They may arrange things better so I will not have to go to eighth period Study Hall.

It is said that we will get only 10 credit in the 2 hours of work we do in our agriculture class.  My teacher is fighting his way through for us to get 20 credit.

Feb. 27, 1943

We had a Boy Scout's Father and Son Banquet.  It was preceded by Court of Honor and we recieved our Second Class bandage.  Our Troop number is 125.  There is 17 person of our own block in this troop.  The attends of our Troop were 100%.  For this, we are going to [receive] a semophore(?) Flag. ("We" are our troop).  	It is getting quite hot now.  Even a little walk makes us sweat.

March 6, 1943

Today being Saturday, few of the Boy Scouts and I made a interesting trip to the Plateau which is about 6 

or 7 miles far.  I felt wonderful to breathe the cool air and to look at the low land and the far off camp.   Because of the misty fog which hung low on the surface of the Colorado River, we couldn't see it.  Others didn't realize the change of the plateau since we came last time as much as I did.  They just came for one purpose.  To pass the First Class Requirement for a 14 mile hike.  I was very much rushed in going home but few of the changes were mostly that of plants.  Some were blooming in that vast land of heating dryness.  [There] were dwarf lupine which was not yet blooming.  I took down some notes on the color of flower, amount of stamen, pistol, petal, sepal etc.  Next time I will take a magazine and press them down.

Now days I feel so tired and sleepy and can't go to sleep when I go to bed that I said this to one of my teacher.  He said maybe I didn't get enough vitamins. I don't believe that.  He said why I didn't go see the doctor.  I know the doctor will give me too much limitation so I don't believe in that too, so I guess, after all, I'm O.K.
I heard that our former home has been damaged.  I believe that there is quite a change their now.
My Father is taking violin lesson.  He say it is hard so I told him that's the same way I used to feel about my piano lesson.

Best regard from all. 
                            
Sincerely yours

Sanji Sato
The End.