Traveling across the US West, it is impossible to escape our sad and tragic history of racism, discrimination and mistrust across many realms (indigenous peoples, immigrants, people of color); However, despite being painful, it is important for us to remember so we never repeat these same mistakes.

On our 2023 and 2024 trips, we came across two Japanese internment camps that troubled our hearts and moved us to tears. By way of background, Sue had a roommate many years ago at the University of Colorado who was of Japanese descent and who enlightened her to the many hardships and discrimination over the years endured by individuals of Japanese ancestry. Indeed, the roommate’s family had known people who had been interned in these camps. She also introduced Sue to culinary delights such as dried cod for breakfast (in a very small shared dorm room, mind you) but also and especially, mochi!

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 requiring Japanese American families to vacate the West Coast. Nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans (more than two thirds US citizens) were forcibly relocated, without due process of law, to 10 newly built internment camps across the US.

Many had very little time to leave their homes, bringing only the items they could carry. After spending time in temporary detention facilities (fairgrounds or racetracks), they were transferred by train to one of these 10 makeshift internment camps.

It was only by happenstance this year that we discovered we were passing very close to this special historic site near Cody, Wyoming: Heart Mountain WWII National Memorial Landmark. We had seen and made note of a painting by Jishiro Miyauchi (opening photo above) at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis which we had visited in July. The artist painted this scene while he was interred at Heart Mountain. Once we discovered we would be passing close to Heart Mountain, we decided to detour and take in this award-winning historical site.

Heart Mountain was not the first internment camp we visited. In 2023, we visited the Minidoka National Historical Site in the Idaho desert near Twin Falls. Nearly 13,000 individuals had been interned at this camp. Both of these historic sites teach us the critical importance of protecting civil liberties.

What touched our hearts most, was the shear determination of the internees to survive and make the most of their time there. They lived behind barbed wire in makeshift barracks constructed of tarpaper and green wood which shrinks as it drys, creating openings between the boards. Neither Heart Mountain nor Minidoka were completed when the internees arrived In the winter. They lived in below freezing temperatures in winter and greater than 100 degrees in summer. They shared latrines with as many as 250 people, and were housed communally creating a profound lack of privacy.

The internees made improvements to their barracks. They insulated the barracks, established schools, a hospital, fire stations, and sports teams within these camps. Minidoka even had beauty salons, movies, art exhibitions and a newspaper. These efforts truly show the spirit of “Shikata ga nai”, or “Make the best of it”. We left each camp feeling that the internees had given much more to the local communities than they received during their internment.

Of special note, the internees of each camp, in order to alleviate food shortages and improve the camp’s food quality, took the adjacent barren ground and turned it into prosperous farmland. In addition to converting 1,100 acres into productive farmland, the internees at Heart Mountain also established hog and poultry operations.

Two additional items of note:

1. Most internees lost everything (businesses and homes) when they were forced to relocate to Heart Mountain. In 1945, when they were told they could leave, the US government provided only $25 and a train ticket to their desired location.
2. As most of the internees were US citizens, the male internees were also subject to the draft! Below is the Memorial commemorating the many men from Heart Mountain Internment Camp who served in WWII:

The internees will to survive and efforts to create community, especially given the indignity and most dire of circumstances, should inspire and be a lesson to us all.

The origami crane represents good fortune and longevity, and its wings are believed to provide protection. This beautiful crane presently hangs above our sofa in the RV, reminding us of the Heart Mountain community.

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