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[h1]Today, a day of remembrance, marks pivotal point in WWIIhttp://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/763218.html[/h1]
• Published February 19, 2009
There was a time of life in the 1940s when the United States was peaceful. World War I had long since passed, but the world itself was unsettled. After war broke out in Europe, one frightful day in December of 1941 brought America into the war in the Pacific theater. That day affected more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent and Japanese immigrants loyal and faithful to the United States.
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 directing the Department of War, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy to imprison Japanese and Japanese-Americans at various locations within the borders of the United States without any suspicion of wrongdoing other than race or national origin.
After Executive Order 9066 was signed, Gen. John DeWitt signed Proclamation 1 and 2 on March 2, 1942, that established a specific geographical area on the West Coast where much of the Japanese population resided. President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9102 on March 18, 1942, establishing the War Relocation Authority for incarceration.
In Washington, once these orders were in effect, Japanese-Americans were ordered by U.S. government agents to collect personal items they could carry and were required to evacuate from their homes in Bainbridge Island, Seattle, the Kent Valley, and other locations throughout the state. They were ordered to report to the processing center at the Puyallup fairgrounds, then moved on to Pinedale, Ore., and Tule Lake, Calif. for further internment. Japanese-Americans in other West Coast states were forcibly evacuated to internment camps scattered throughout the West and South. Although these Japanese-Americans were loyal and even willing to fight for America in the war against Japan and the other Axis powers, these Americans had to endure fear and hysteria because they looked like the enemy.
During this time, an all-Japanese-American Army unit was formed: the 442nd Combat Regiment Team, including the 100th Infantry Division and the Military Intelligence Service comprised of the Nisei - second generation Japanese-Americans who enlisted from within the camps. These units fought ferociously to prove their selflessness and loyalty to themselves, their families and most importantly to the United States. In doing so, these Nisei units distinguished themselves by earning more distinguished decorations and awards than any unit in the U.S. armed forces - the Medal of Honor, Silver and Bronze Stars with the "V" insignia for valor, Distinguished Service medals, the Purple Heart and many others. These all Japanese-American units liberated the Dachau death camp in Germany and rescued the 36th Infantry Division, known also as the Lost Battalion.
After the war ended in the Pacific Theater in 1945, the interned Japanese-Americans were released. Some who wished to return to their original homes found they could not because their homes were disposed of while others, choosing not to return to racism and hatred moved to other geographical areas. Each of these Americans still encountered prejudice, hate and mistrust because of unfounded fear of their race alone.
It took many decades to dispel false beliefs, but life lessons still need to be brought to light. For this day in history is remembered in that others are our equals, that we must learn from the mistakes of history of these horrendous events which occurred on our own soil. Sadly, these mistakes continue in one form or another to other people.
Bob Nakamura, president of the Olympia chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, is a retired U.S. Army finance corps noncommissioned officer. A member of The Olympian's Diversity Panel, Nakamura can be reached at sgtmilehibob@yahoo.com.
a sad day in recent US history....