“World War II at Home, America’s Fear Hits the Coastside” – Naomi Patridge Talks About Her Internment Experience as a Child

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PODCAST. From the Half Moon Bay History Association presentation on September 24th, 2015. This edited clip of the Half Moon Bay History Association program tells the story in the first person about • The months that fear gripped the American Public • The years that a vital part of our Coastside community went away to internment. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, our Japanese neighbors were ordered off to internment camps by the government. Hear about the personal story from one who lived it – – and then went on to become among the most gifted and generous community leaders of the Coastside. Hear the stories about the arrival of U. S. troops coming to the Coastside to patrol the beaches and man defensive guns. The fear of attacks on the mainland was real. The reaction to those fears was appropriate in some cases, and devastatingly inappropriate in others. Twenty five year Half Moon Bay City Council member Naomi Patridge tells her compelling story, her family’s involvement in those days, and about how those experiences formed the backdrop for her emergence as a leader. Naomi Patridge is a former mayor of Half Moon Bay, California and a well-known figure in Coastside politics:

• Family history ~ Patridge is a Japanese-American who experienced World War II internment as a child. She and her family spent three years interned, including at a camp in Utah.
• Political career ~ Patridge served seven terms as mayor of Half Moon Bay, making her the first Asian American to be elected to public office in San Mateo County. She was also a member of the City Council for 25 years.
• Post-political career ~ After stepping down from political office, Patridge took on a role overseeing several senior centers in the county. She was inducted into the SMC Women’s Hall of Fame and the Cougar Boosters Hall of Fame.

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