In the center of a cotton f ield 12 miles north of McGehee,
Arkansas, headstones stand guard over 24 graves. These
headstones, 4 monuments, and an abandoned smoke stack are the only reminder
of a time in Arkansas history that most
people want to forget.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Order
9066 removing 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry
from the West Coast into 10 internment centers. Of the 10, two were built
in Arkansas. One in Jerome and the other in
Rohwer.
Rohwer relocation Center was comprised of 600 acres. The first
internees arrived on September 18, 1942 and the last
left on November 13, 1945. Peak occupancy was 8,475. The camp consisted of
51 blocks, each accommodating 300
persons. In each block were 14 residential barracks, a mess hall, recreational
building, laundry and bathroom building.
Each residential block had 12-20 x 120 foot barracks. The residential buildings
were used for judo, boxing, weaving and
other activities.
The project manager was Ray Johnson. Dr. J. Hunter, a missionary acted as interpreter for the Japanese-Americans.
Rosalie Santine Gould, former mayor of McGehee, has been collecting
items from the camp and former internees.
Anyone wishing to inspect the records, paintings, pictures, etc. pertaining
to the camp, may contact her at 870-222-5355.
In 1981, Sam Yada of Little Rock made possible the erection
of a new monument dedicated to the men of the 442 Regiment, known as the "Go
For Broke Regiment". On the monument are listed the names of the 31 men
from the Rohwer Camp who
died fighting for their country in the 442, even thought their families were
interned in the camp.
In July 1992, a large celebration was held at the camp to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the building of the camp.
Over 200 former internees and their families attended.
In July of 1993, a ceremony was held at the Rohwer Cemetery
dedicating a plaque designating the camp as a National
Landmark. Many former internees attended.
The above information was given by Rosalie Santine Gould.
For more information about the Rohwer and Jerome Relocation
Camps go to www.lifeinterrupted.org.
This is an informative
web page containing information as well as pictures.
