LOCAL : Area WWII Internees Get Checks
Five Japanese-American centenarians, who were interned during World War II, received $20,000 redress checks and a written apology from President Bush today during a ceremony in Little Tokyo.
“I feel very happy, and this is the happiest moment of my life,” said Teru Noda, 100, of Lake View Terrace, who spoke through an interpreter.
Noda, who was “excluded” to the Manzanar camp during the war years, said she will put most of the money in the bank in anticipation of future medical and funeral expenses.
“I don’t know how to describe it, but I’m very, very happy about it,” said Iwa Nishimura, 101, who also spoke through an interpreter. The other recipients were Tamaki Maruyama, 102, Toyosaburo Katayama, 100, and Uno Taketa, 100.
John Dunne, U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, presented the four women and one man with the checks and letters of apology.
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