Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

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April 14th (Tuesday)

We have not had our belongings delivered to us, and most of us cannot shave our face. Electric razors were allowed to carry on, and those who packed one are able to shave.

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Some managed to borrow razor from the Panama people from the homeland, but I see hairy faces everywhere I look. There is nothing we can do for change of clothes as they are not here. It is miserable.

A set of Camps Rules and Regulations printouts was distributed to each tent.

The heading reads Headquarters Enemy Alien Detention Camp, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and it is issued on January 15, 1942. The entire content is as follows.

Headquarters

Enemy Alien Detention Camp

Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Camp Rules and Regulations

Section I: General Instructions

1. It is the desire of this headquarters that internees be made as comfortable as possible. To this end, all available facilities will be utilized. Camp beautification by Internees is encouraged. However, strict compliance with the following regulation and instruction will be reacquired, and violations thereof will result in the withdrawal of privileges which are extended to Internees based upon

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their good behavior.

1. Internees will not be permitted to converse with guards or others outside the stockade. Any Internees desiring to make a request of the guard or of this headquarters, will contact on the mail gate.

2. Internees attempting to escape will be shot.

3. Internees will not touch or molest the stockade fences.

4. Tents will be occupied by four (4) to six (6) people. The occupants of a tent will select of their member to be in charge of thereof and to be obeyed as tent leader. The name of each leader will be transmitted to the inspecting officer, and will be posted outside each tent.

5. An attempt will be made to quarter the respective nationals in groups of the same nationality. National groups will select their own leaders, one for each group of fifty (50) or less. The names of such leaders will be

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submitted to the inspecting officer.

1. Quiet will prevail at 9:00 o’clock p.m., and all lights will be turned out at 11:00 o’clock p.m. After 9:00 p.m., internees will remain in their tents until reveille except for necessary visits to latrine.

2. A copy of those rules will be given to each internees upon admission to the camp, and if not thoroughly understood, will be interpreted to the internee in his own language.

Section II: Police and Sanitation

1. Beds will be made and tents and surrounding ground cleaned immediately after rising. Tent leader will be responsible for the cleanliness and sanitation for the tent.

2. Internees will all help in the cleaning of the entire area within the stockade. A general cleaning of the area will be made daily immediately after breakfast.

3. The camp at all times, will be

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subject to inspection for sanitation and cleanliness.

Section III:Latrines

1. Latrines will be kept scrupulously clean and in good operating condition at all times. Internee latrine orderlies will be detailed for this purpose by roster. Hot water will be maintained at all times.

Section IV: Discipline

1. Group leaders at all times will be responsible for the actions and discipline of their group. They will be obeyed and will report any breach of discipline to the officer in charge. Interactions of those roles will result in disciplinary action being taken against offending individuals.

2. Minor offenses will be punished by the withholding of privileges, and serious offenses will be made the subject of trial by the proper courts.

Section V: Meals

1. Meal time will be as follows:

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230 Daily Sunday Breakfast 7:00 a.m. 8;00 a.m.

Dinner 12:00 noon 1:00 p.m.

Supper 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

1. Meals will be prepared and served by the Internees under the supervision and direction of a Mess Sergeant. Cooks will be selected from experienced internees, and if sufficient numbers of experienced cooks are available, they will be rotated. Kitchen police and dining room orderlies will be detailed daily by roster of the internees.

2. Each day, after the evening meal. The Mess Sergeant will physically inventory all knives, forks, spoons and any other equipment which might be utilized as a lethal weapon. Should any equipment be missing, all internees will be turned out for an inspection, and will remain outside their quarters until the missing articles have been found. Mess halls and kitchens will be kept locked each might. No kitchen and mess equipment will be removed from the mess halls and kitchens.

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Section VI: Visiting

1. No visiting will be permitted except with parties having properly authenticated credentials from the proper officials of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. During all visits a representative of this headquarters will be present.

a. Visits with members of the families may be held once each week between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., except on Sundays.

b. Visits of a business mature may be held at such times as deemed necessary by the Camp Commander, and shall be only when the necessity therefore is clearly indicated, only during the hours specified above.

Section VII: Mail

All incoming and outgoing mail will be censored. Outgoing mail will be delivered to the Sergeant of the Guard in stamped and unsealed envelopes who will in turn deliver

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the same to an officer of the camp.

Section VIII: Laundry

Laundry facilities will be provided in each latrine as needed. Internees will be required to keep clean and to launder their own clothes.

Section IX: Bathing

Internees will bathe at least twice (2) weekly.

Section XI: Fire Precautions

A constant lookout for fire will be maintained and spark arrestors will be cleaned weekly. Alarms will be turn in immediately upon discovery of a fire by calling “Fire” to the nearest Guard.

Larry McHale

Lient. Colonel, Field Artillery

Commanding.