The detainees at Heart Mountain had similar responses to Redress and Reparations as did the detainees from the other camps. Though individual responses varied, overall everyone felt that it came too late. The ones who needed it the most, the Issei, first generation Japanese Americans, were the ones who lost everything with the incarceration. Most of them were gone when the Government’s apology and reparation was finally given. “I have mixed feelings (about Redress and Reparations). I was pleased when the measures became law. I am, however, disappointed that my father could not have lived to see it happen, while my mother passed away before she received her check. Over one-half of the victims of the internment, 60,000 people, were already dead. I appreciate the formal apology which I consider to be more significant than the payments. The amount is a token sum compared to the actual losses of most people. Part of my money and that of my brother and sister went to a memorial at the Japanese American National Museum in memory of our parents, the ones that were most seriously affected by the war experience. After so many years of hardship without benefit of U.S. citizenship which was denied to them until 1952, and the denial also of land ownership, they have been vindicated. They, and most persons of Japanese ancestry believe in good, law-abiding families, loyalty to the U.S. and faith in Democracy. What happened to our parents and us was a great injustice mistake and as the findings of Congress showed, was the result of wartime hysteria, a breakdown in political leadership and race prejudice. The young people of America need to know what happened and why so that something like it will never happen again.” Ike Hatchimonji. Six other quotes from internees followed.