Alan K. Simpson was born in September 1931 in Denver, Colorado and grew up in Cody, Wyoming. His father was at Harvard law school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when he returned to Cody to defend Simpson's grandfather in a murder trial. Simpson's father remained in Cody and continued to practice law. Simpson recalled Cody as a nurturing place to grow up as a boy. He did not fear anything, came home for meals, fished, hunted, went to school and played ball. It was a tight-knit community, but also a tourist town. His house was out on a prairie and he recalled counting the big yellow buses that would take tourists to and from Yellowstone Park [Annotator's Notes: Yellowstone National Park]. He remembered that during the Great Depression, hobos [Annotator's Notes: according to Merriam-Webster, a hobo is a migratory worker] would ride the train rail to the end of the line, which was Cody, and ask for jobs in the town. The hobos would mark the homes that were kind to them, so other hobos would know in hopes to receive help.

Alan K. Simpson was playing outside when his friend, Jackie Allen, came down to his house to share the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They ran inside and turned on the radio to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt deliver his famous speech in which "this day will live in infamy." Simpson's father, a World War 1 veteran, wanted to enlist, but was denied due to his age. Being a child at the time, Simpson did not know anything about Pearl Harbor. He does not recall Japanese in his community of Cody, Wyoming, but he did remember a small minority of black and Hispanic people. Regarding racism, Simpson remarked the feeling of concern and having a serious disgust toward Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In 1942, Alan K. Simpson remembered the construction of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County, Wyoming. It was located on a highway between Cody, Wyoming, and Powell, Wyoming. Men were hired to build the compound that could hold 10,000 to 14,000 people. [Annotator’s Notes: Phone call ring in background and interview pauses]. Simpson explained that Japanese-Americans on the coast were picked up and sent to these relocation centers due to the rumors that they could be spies for the Empire of Japan. Many governmental entities agreed that it was a military necessity to detain the Japanese Americans. Simpson recalled that people in his community believed the rumors. There was no reason not to believe it. The interment camp had barbed wired fences, guns, guards, guard towers, and search lights. Some people of Cody were employed there as nurses and teachers. Simpson observed that the children in the camp were no different than him and his friends. The kids in the camp had the same hair styles as they did, played the same sports, went to school and had dances. There was a presence of hatred toward the Japanese in Cody. Simpson remembered a restaurant owner's son was killed in Iwo Jima, so he had a "No Japs Allowed" sign in the window of his restaurant. It was tense. As a boy, Simpson sympathized with the restaurant owner. Some people in the community helped the Japanese in the camp, including Simpson's father.

Alan K. Simpson was in a Boy Scout troop during World War 2. His Scout leader wanted to go to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County, Wyoming to interact with the three Boy Scout troops that were in the camp. He recalled how extensive the camp was when he walked into it the first time. There was barrack after barrack lined up on dirt streets. There was no privacy, and the toilets were all in one building. There was a mess hall and vegetable gardens that the internees grew themselves. The children had a school and a Scout headquarters. Simpson remembered that they did jamborees, knot-tying, braiding, bead work, and earning merit badges. He met the parents of many of the troops. He remembered the internees ordered from catalogs, wrote checks, received mail, made their own furniture, hung American flags, and displayed sports memorabilia in their barracks. He met Norman Mineta [Annotator's Note: Norman Yoshio Mineta; mayor of San Jose, California, 1971 to 1975; United States Congressman, 1975 to 1995; 33rd United States Secretary of Commerce, 2000 to 2001; 14th Secretary of Transportation, 2001 to 2006] during one of the troop gatherings in Heart Mountain. They were setting up a tent together when a kid came up and bullied them. The pair decided to seek revenge by directing rainwater towards the bully's tent. Simpson remarked that "Norm was fun". They rekindled their friendship again after Mineta was elected mayor of San Jose, California. Then they continued their friendship when they both were in the United States Congress and worked on various projects together including the reparations of Japanese-Americans. Simpson remarked on the feelings toward the Japanese-Americans in the camp. As a young boy, he did not think anything wrong with what was going on. He could not wait to join the Army and fight.

Alan K. Simpson joined the United States Army in 1950 and was sent to Germany at the tail end of the occupation. He was sent to Augsburg, Germany with the 10th Infantry Regiment and was tasked as their administrative assistant. He did not enjoy his job and became depressed. While at a hospital he saw a soldier that had his legs blown off and Simpson changed his demeanor. He was then sent to Berne, Germany as an infantry officer with the 12th Armored Infantry Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. He was honorably discharged and went to law school. Simpson and Norman Mineta [Annotator's Note: Norman Yoshio Mineta; mayor of San Jose, California, 1971 to 1975; United States Congressman, 1975 to 1995; 33rd United States Secretary of Commerce, 2000 to 2001; 14th Secretary of Transportation, 2001 to 2006] collaborated to raise money for the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County, Wyoming. Simpson gave all the credit to his friend "Norm" and others who did fund raising for the cause.

Alan K. Simpson compares the attack on Pearl Harbor with the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks. He feels that the Japanese targeted military targets while the 9-11 terrorists targeted innocent people. After the 9-11 attacks, Simpson recounted an event in the Oval Office with President George W. Bush and Norman Mineta [Annotator's Note: Norman Yoshio Mineta; mayor of San Jose, California, 1971 to 1975; United States Congressman, 1975 to 1995; 33rd United States Secretary of Commerce, 2000 to 2001; 14th Secretary of Transportation, 2001 to 2006]. According to Simpson, "President Bush said that we can't let happen now what happen to Norm during World War 2." Simpson believes the impact of World War 2 is gone. People in our country are more selfish, do not believe in a shared sacrifice, and many people are greedy. While World War 2 and the Cold War kept us as sticking together and having a common goal. Simpson believes that today we've lost our sense of duty, compassion, and sensitivity toward each other. [Annotator's Note: Phone rings and interview ends.]