Mary Kiyono Wada was born in 1929 in San Francisco, the youngest of six children in the Wada family. Her father, a Japanese restaurant owner in Japantown, was a proud Japanese national—his home adorned with Japanese flags and tatami mats, a reflection of his cultural roots.
At age 13, Mary’s life changed drastically when Executive Order 9066 was issued. Her family was forcibly removed from their home and incarcerated—first at Tanforan Assembly Center, then at the Topaz War Relocation Center, followed by Tule Lake Segregation Center, and eventually Crystal City Alien Enemy Detention Facility in Texas.
Mary vividly recalls one day at school in Topaz. The students were led outside and lined up in front of the flagpole to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. As the words filled the air, a classmate standing beside her whispered under their breath, “I am an American!”
Mary stood silently, the words catching in her throat. Finally, she turned to the student and asked the only thing she could: “Then why are you here?”
After the war, her family moved to Japan. But at age 18, Mary made the decision to return to the United States alone, to complete high school and reclaim her U.S. citizenship. She built a life in California, marrying and raising three children. Mary is now a proud grandmother and lives in San Francisco.
