Oral History Interview with Ben Blaz, October 8, 1994 Page: 51
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Marcello: So-called "comfort women?"
Blaz: "Comfort women," yes. They imported them, and they
left our women alone. But women didn't stop at that.
They accepted being dressed more shabbily, and
purposely did so, to make them look less attractive,
which, to a woman--no matter where they are--is quite a
sacrifice. But aside from that, they were also made to
plant rice, so they did their share of the work. But
the most fearful thing for a woman was being abused
[raped] by a man, particularly by many soldiers, but we
came to a resolution very early in the occupation, when
there was a lot of problems with that. So I think the
Japanese decided to end this: "Why risk an uprising
here, when we can do this thing by just importing our
women from Korea, the Philippines?"
Marcello: Now this brings us pretty close to the coming of the
Americans. What happens when the invasion starts?
Blaz: That's when things had really gone to hell in a
handbasket in a way because the Japanese had by this
time herded us all into a concentration camp in the
jungle. There were thousands of us, so they'd just finda little valley somewhere and just put us in the there
and put the guards around it, and you'd just fend for
yourself.
Marcello: I was going to ask you what provisions did they made
for food or anything of that nature.51
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Blaz, Ben. Oral History Interview with Ben Blaz, October 8, 1994, text, October 8, 1994; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1606451/m1/53/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.