Pictorial Travel Diary - Day 2 - The Ralph Lazo Story
“When sixteen-year-old RALPH LAZO registered with relocation authorities, they assumed he was Japanese American. In fact, he was Mexican Irish American. Although he wanted to accompany his friends to camp, they were sent to Heart Mountain, while he came to Manzanar.
Ralph Lazo’s life changed at lunch one day. His high school friend, Isao Kudow, asked: ‘Ralph, what are you going to do without us? Why don’t you come along?’ When he signed on with the authorities as if he were Japanese American, no one asked for proof. ‘Being brown had its advantages’ Ralph later said.
Ralph became one of Manzanar High School’s most popular students. He started the cheerleading squad, played football, and emceed Saturday night dances. In November 1944, he left Manzanar as a soldier in the U.S. Army. He served in the Philippines, earning a Bronze Star for bravery.
After the war, Ralph attended college and graduate school and became a college counselor. Looking back on his Manzanar experience, he reflected, ‘The greatest damage was psychological.’ Although Ralph valued ‘a lot of wonderful friends’ from Manzanar, he expressed the hope, ‘Nobody ever has to do that again.’”
Ralph Lazo’s life changed at lunch one day. His high school friend, Isao Kudow, asked: ‘Ralph, what are you going to do without us? Why don’t you come along?’ When he signed on with the authorities as if he were Japanese American, no one asked for proof. ‘Being brown had its advantages’ Ralph later said.
Ralph became one of Manzanar High School’s most popular students. He started the cheerleading squad, played football, and emceed Saturday night dances. In November 1944, he left Manzanar as a soldier in the U.S. Army. He served in the Philippines, earning a Bronze Star for bravery.
After the war, Ralph attended college and graduate school and became a college counselor. Looking back on his Manzanar experience, he reflected, ‘The greatest damage was psychological.’ Although Ralph valued ‘a lot of wonderful friends’ from Manzanar, he expressed the hope, ‘Nobody ever has to do that again.’”
posted by Nana @ 23:04
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