Interned Japanese-American Citizens

[Wustenfuchs]

These images break my heart.


A Japanese-American family heads to the internment camp:
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A Japanese-American WW1 Veteran arrives for internment:
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[Jim O]

Think that was bad?

We imported them from elsewhere too.

US Interned Japanese-Peruvian Nationals

[Wustenfuchs]

Yes I read that thread Jim. Unbelieveable.

[Jim O]

In the case of native born US citizens of Japanese descent, I am amazed at how many opted to enlist in the US military to serve while their families were interned.

[salinator]

Originally Posted by Jim O

In the case of native born US citizens of Japanese descent, I am amazed at how many opted to enlist in the US military to serve while their families were interned.

Even with the indignation of the internment camp, over 75% of the Nisei said they were willing to serve. Those that volunteered and were accepted for service still had to bear with the burden of their family in internment camps.

We all know that the 442nd Regiment was the most decorated unit in US history, given the times, it may well be that they were still shortchanged. They were at Monte Cassino, yet there are no photos of them. They were at the spearhead toward Rome was ordered to halt withen 8 miles of the city to allow other units to pass them and receive credit. They fought in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. They received 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 52 Distinguishes Service Crosses, 1 Distinguishes Service Medal, 560 Silver Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier's Medals, 4000 Bronze Stars (one upgraded to Medal of Honor in 2000),
1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters, and 9486 Purple Hearts.

Perhaps their most famous action was when the 442 lost half of its men to rescue their Countrymen. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from 26 October to 30 October 1944, the 442nd suffered over 800 casualties—nearly half of its roster—while rescuing 211 members of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry (36th Infantry Division, originally Texas National Guard), which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since 24 October.

[Wustenfuchs]

The rescue of the "Lost Battalion"


Go For Broke National Education Center >> History >> Historical Information >> Campaigns

[cyberia]

My wife and I recently watched a movie just out on DVD titled "National Pastime".

The title has a duality to it. You guys should check it out. It's an eye opener. It was for my wife.

Heidi is great and well educated, but she has little or no interest in history. Still, I was shocked to learn that she, American born and raised, never heard of the internment of Japanese Americans. She said the subject never came up when she attended school. She was horrified not only at the internment, but the manner in which these people were treated by their fellow Americans.

[Jim O]

There was real fear among the populace, especially on the West Coast, that Japan would attempt an invasion. Instead of putting in the effort to alleviate those fears, the government, in its infinite wisdom, decided to intern these people. Of course it didn't help that they "looked" different and so therefore "could not be trusted".

The sad thing is it could easily happen again. During a state of war or rebellion the President can suspend habeas corpus indefinitely.

From Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution:

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

Roosevelt's decision was upheld in several Supreme Court rulings.

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in the Civil War as well.

[salinator]

Originally Posted by Jim O

There was real fear among the populace, especially on the West Coast, that Japan would attempt an invasion. Instead of putting in the effort to alleviate those fears, the government, in its infinite wisdom, decided to intern these people. Of course it didn't help that they "looked" different and so therefore "could not be trusted".

The sad thing is it could easily happen again. During a state of war or rebellion the President can suspend habeas corpus indefinitely.

From Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution:

Roosevelt's decision was upheld in several Supreme Court rulings.

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in the Civil War as well.

That is just rationalization by the US Government to justify it's illegal treatment of their own citizens. The Japanese reached the Hawaiian Islands and the Aleutian Islands, no serious threat of invasion of the 48 states by the Japeanese ever existed. In fact, it was the paranoia of sabotage by ethnic Japanese that allowed the US Army Air Corps to be so easily destroyed during Pearl Harbor, and the Pacific Fleet to be manhandled.

Simple fact is that the US citizenry of Japanese descent was easily identified and stood out like a sore thumb compared to citizenry of German and Italian descent. How was the US any less safe from the ethnic Japanese than German or Italian saboteurs? German U-boats were sitting off the coast of the US eastern seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico, and within distance of light signals. A German or Italian spy on the east coast would have a much better chance of fowarding intelligence than some Japanese guy in San Francisco or Los Angelos.

The internment of the Japanese were wrong. I understand it was a different time then, but I pray that we never again make such a mistake.

[Jim O]

[quote=salinator;22351]

Originally Posted by Jim O

That is just rationalization by the US Government to justify it's illegal treatment of their own citizens. The Japanese reached the Hawaiian Islands and the Aleutian Islands, no serious threat of invasion of the 48 states by the Japeanese ever existed. In fact, it was the paranoia of sabotage by ethnic Japanese that allowed the US Army Air Corps to be so easily destroyed during Pearl Harbor, and the Pacific Fleet to be manhandled.

Simple fact is that the US citizenry of Japanese descent was easily identified and stood out like a sore thumb compared to citizenry of German and Italian descent. How was the US any less safe from the ethnic Japanese than German or Italian saboteurs? German U-boats were sitting off the coast of the US eastern seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico, and within distance of light signals. A German or Italian spy on the east coast would have a much better chance of fowarding intelligence than some Japanese guy in San Francisco or Los Angelos.

The internment of the Japanese were wrong. I understand it was a different time then, but I pray that we never again make such a mistake.

All of your points are correct, except suspension of habeas corpus was (and still is) completely legal. The outstanding issue was one of discrimination not legality.

Also, the way it was handled was that the West Coast was made a military exclusionary zone. People were free to relocate but most went to the camps because they had nowhere else to go.