Myer’s final report calls the 1942 evacuation unjustified

Vol. 24, No. 5, February 8, 1947. 8 pages. View this issue

Dillon Myer’s final report as director of the War Relocation Authority led this 8-page issue. It called the 1942 mass evacuation unjustified, and JACL national president Hito Okada praised it and urged Congress to set up an evacuation claims commission. Editorials took up the same three-point program of claims, naturalization reform and community support. Larry Tajiri argued for a documentary film record of the forced removal, and Bill Hosokawa cautioned readers not to count on a lump-sum payment. Other front-page stories covered California’s Alien Land law suits and a habeas corpus petition for 14 people interned at Crystal City, Texas.

Also inside: Col. Joseph W. Stilwell Jr. searching for Nisei Burma veterans, a review of the 442nd Combat Team history by L.S.T., the chartering of an all-Nisei VFW post in Sacramento, and a Minneapolis fair employment ordinance. Sports and chapter news fill the later pages.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Two Nisei Hurt in Wreck of S.P. Streamliner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two persons of Japanese ancestry were among 83 treated for injuries when the San Joaquin Daylight crashed into a tank truck near Kingsburg, Calif., on Feb. 4, killing four. Mrs. Nobu Kobayashi of Richmond suffered burns and Mrs. K. Sumida of Los Angeles was hospitalized.
• Ushiroda Files for West Hawaii Vacancy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Former representative Shunzo Ushiroda has filed for the West Hawaii vacancy in the territorial house of representatives, to be filled at a special election. He has the endorsement of the Republican party in Hawaii.
• Wife of Nisei Ex-GI Leaves to Join Husband in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Mary Higuchi of Seattle sailed on the Army transport Mercy to join her Nisei husband Joe, a civilian worker in Yokohama with Eighth Army procurement. The couple, both University of Washington graduates, had been separated for 18 months.
• Investigate Forced Dismissal of Nisei from Oakland Factory, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The ACLU of Northern California is investigating the forced dismissal of Zenichi Kambara from a venetian blind factory in Oakland after the business agent of an AFL affiliate union demanded his discharge. Both the employer and the Nisei worker charge racial discrimination by the union.
• Former Japanese YWCA Will Be Reopened as Interracial Facility, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The former Japanese YWCA in San Francisco’s Buchanan Street, used by the USO during the war, will reopen as an interracial YMCA and YWCA with ceremonies on Feb. 9. Fred Hoshiyama will serve as executive secretary of the Buchanan Street branch.
• Farm Worker Found Suicide Near Reedley, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The body of 59-year-old ranch worker Hiroshi Baba was found hanging near Reedley on Feb. 3, and the coroner ruled it a suicide. Baba, a Japan-born resident of the district for 40 years, had no known relatives.
• National Nisei Bowling Meet Planned in Salt Lake in March, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A national Nisei bowling tournament sponsored by the National JACL and the Salt Lake City chapter will be held March 29-30 at the Temple alleys, with a prize fund exceeding $1,000. Teams from several cities have expressed interest in the event.
• United Nations Idea Backed by Speaker at Buddhist Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rev. K. M. Kumata, executive director of the Buddhist church of America, told the 11th annual Intermountain YBA conference in Ogden that the world needs understanding among peoples to realize United Nations ideals. Mike Maruyama of Ogden was elected president of the Intermountain YBA.
• Matsumura Speaks on Issei Problems to Church Group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Phil Matsumura, executive secretary of the United Citizens League, addressed 75 members of the Grace Baptist church council in San Jose on the problems of the Issei. He cited the record of the 442nd and urged support for Issei naturalization.
• Minneapolis Mayor Notes Nisei Contributions to City’s Life, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Minneapolis Mayor Humphrey praised the contributions Japanese Americans are making to the city and urged Nisei to participate fully in civic activities. He expressed hope for a happy life for Japanese Americans who have resettled there.
• Stress JACL Must Work for All Minorities, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tats Kushida, midwest regional director of the JACL, told the St. Louis chapter installation dinner that the JACL must work for all minority groups because an attack on one is an attack on all. Attorney Robert Kratky also spoke on minority rights at the event.
• First All-Nisei Post Chartered by VFW Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. America’s first all-Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars post was chartered in Sacramento on Feb. 7, with former Army Major Yoshizo Harada as its first commander. Eighty Japanese American veterans with overseas service joined as charter members.
• Tad Hirota Named Temporary President of Oakland JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tad Hirota was named temporary president of the Oakland JACL chapter, with other officers and board members selected by a nominating committee pending an April general election. The chapter held a kick-off dinner in January featuring Karl Justus.
• Chicago Chapter Credit Union Holds General Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago JACL Credit Union held its first 1947 general meeting, electing new board members and naming a new educational committee. Rev. George Nishimoto and Shig Wakamatsu were elected to the board.
• Representative of Jewish Congress To Speak to JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Miss Pauli Murray of the American Jewish Congress will speak to the New York JACL chapter on Feb. 18 about racial discrimination. Newly elected chapter officers will also be installed at the meeting.
• Donation Swells Buddhist Youth Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A donation from Fresno fig growers Ashford and Lola Lake brought the Buddhist YBA fund within one hundred dollars of its goal. The announcement marks progress on the group’s fundraising drive.
• Society Schedules Events for Coming Months, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Denver YWCA Young Peoples’ Society scheduled a dance with Art Bronson’s orchestra and a square-dance session for upcoming weeks. Orchestra dances will continue every other week through April.
• Chicago Nisei Set Vital Statistics Program, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A list of Chicago Nisei births and vital statistics was published in this issue. It covers births to families in various cities during the period.
• Chicago JACL Plans East-West Fellowship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Chicago chapter of the East-West Fellowship will present a program devoted to Japanese culture, with Dr. Mary Takahashi presenting. The program is open to the public.
• Florin Fellowship Plans Social Events, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Florin Youth Fellowship planned a Valentine get-together and a snow hike on Feb. 22. The events are organized under the direction of Ben Miyaoka.
• Oregon Buddhists Hold Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Young Buddhists of Portland and vicinity organized a dance under the chairmanship of Harry Nakata, with other committee heads named. Proceeds support the group’s activities.
• Fresno Fellowship to Hear Speakers, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Fresno Christian Fellowship will host Rev. Nicholas Cumba and Larry Domingas as speakers on Feb. 9 as part of a race relations program. Dorothy Nagata chairs the evening.
• Heart Throb Dance Planned in Tacoma, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Tacoma YBA will hold a Heart Throb dance on Valentine’s Day at the Seattle Buddhist hall. Admission is $1.25 per couple, with women admitted free.
• Okano Named to Society at Tulane, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Takeshi Okano, a senior medical student at Tulane University, was named to the Tulane chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honorary medical fraternity.
• Tacoma Buddhists Name Yosh Tanabe New President, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Yosh Tanabe was elected president of the Tacoma YBA at a February 2 meeting, with other cabinet members named. Installation services and a social with dancing are scheduled for Feb. 16 at the Tacoma Buddhist church.

Military & Veterans

• Whereabouts of Nisei Burma Vets Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Col. Joseph W. Stilwell Jr. is seeking the whereabouts of more than 50 Nisei veterans who served with Army intelligence in North Burma so he can resubmit names for decorations that were not approved. Japanese Americans who served under him in G-2 are asked to send their information to Hisashi Horita in San Francisco.
• Veteran of 442nd Enlists for 11th Airborne Division, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Isami Sumida, a three-year veteran of the 442nd Combat Team, reenlisted in the Regular Army and became the first Islander enlisted specifically for duty with the 11th Airborne Division. He was congratulated by Maj. Harry Hartley of the Army recruiting station in Honolulu.
• The Faces of Men After Battle, by L.S.T., page 2. A review of Orville C. Shirey’s official regimental history ‘Americans: The Story of the 442nd Combat Team’ describes the unit’s formation at Camp Shelby and its combat from Italy to France. The review praises the book’s account of ordinary men’s courage and the regiment’s return home after the war.
• Monterey Soldier Promoted to Sergeant, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Masumi Yamashita of Monterey, Calif., was promoted to sergeant while assigned to a special unit at General MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo. A graduate of Salinas Union high school, he entered the Air Corps in 1946 and arrived in Tokyo in October of that year.
• Bill Introduced to Give Citizen Rights to Issei War Veteran, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A private bill was introduced by Rep. Poulson to grant citizenship to Bisntaro Kumagai, a 76-year-old Issei who served in the Spanish American War. Kumagai, who has received a veteran’s pension for ten years, is believed to be the only living Issei veteran of that war.
• Funeral Rites Held for Sgt. Yamasaki, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The body of Tech. Sgt. Tomomasa Yamasaki, one of four Nisei killed in a plane crash in Japan on Dec. 11, was escorted to Los Angeles, and funeral services were held at the Fukui mortuary on Feb. 7.
• Nisei Veterans Group Attacks State, U.S. Bonus Payment, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nisei Veterans Committee of Seattle went on record as favoring a state and federal veterans’ bonus at a meeting attended by Japanese American veterans. The group also voted to pursue a clubhouse project.
• Kinoshita Given Two Medals for Combat Action, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Dr. Robert Kinoshita, who served as a major with the Seventh Armored Division in Europe, received an oak leaf cluster to the Silver Star and a Bronze Star with valor citation in Portland. He had volunteered from the Heart Mountain relocation center.
• MISLS Album Is Still Available, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Limited copies of the MISLS Album, a pictorial record of the Military Intelligence Service Language School, remain available to students and the public. Orders with a $3.50 check or money order can be sent to Presidio of Monterey.

Incarceration & Redress

• Texas Court Suit Will Seek to Free Fourteen Internees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A habeas corpus petition is to be filed in federal court in San Antonio on behalf of 14 aliens of Japanese ancestry interned at Crystal City, Texas, who face deportation to Japan. Attorneys Wayne M. Collins, George C. Olhausen and Theodore Tamba represent them, and the aliens have been interned for five years.
• Report Property of Canadians Sold at Fraction of Value, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese Canadian Committee for Democracy reported that property of Japanese Canadians evacuated from coastal British Columbia in 1942 sold for about one-quarter of estimated value, based on a survey of 1,800 evacuees in Toronto. Total losses were reported at $1,031,732.89.
• State of California Files Escheat Suit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The state of California filed an escheat suit under the Alien Land law to confiscate 20 acres of farmland in Parlier owned by Iwao Yamashiro, son of Unosuke Yamashiro. The state charges the parents hold an interest in the property purchased in 1928.
• Dillon Myer’s Final Report Says Evacuation Unjustified, Asks Modification of Ban Against Issei Citizenship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. WRA director Dillon Myer’s final report declared the 1942 mass evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry unjustified and criticized Gen. John L. DeWitt for racial feelings. The report recommended an evacuation claims commission, naturalization law changes, and continued local citizen committee support for evacuee reintegration.
• Seek Removal of Nisei Case to U.S. Court, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Placer County judge vacated the trial date in the escheat proceedings against the Kondo family and will hear arguments to move the case to federal court. The petition by American-born Aster Kondo argues it is unconstitutional to prevent him from accepting a gift from his parents.
• Returned Evacuee Reports Bad Luck Since Return, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sam Sato, who drove a bus at the Topaz relocation center, reported a string of thefts since returning to San Francisco, including stolen clothing and a wallet. A woman was arrested in the wallet theft, but Sato did not recover his papers or money.
• Discuss Land Law Amendment to Protect Rights of Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Saburo Kido led a Los Angeles community meeting discussing a possible amendment to the California Alien Land law to protect citizen rights of Japanese Americans. The meeting followed voters’ rejection of Proposition 15 in the fall.

National

• New California Official Bars Compromise Settlement in Alien Land Law Suits, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Attorney General Frederick N. Howser will not permit further compromise settlements in California Alien Land law cases, according to the Nichi-Bei Times. The state’s prior settlements funded investigations of other Japanese American property holdings, and the Northern California JACL and civil rights groups oppose such settlements.
• Special Bill Introduced for Haru Matsui, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Ellsworth B. Buck introduced a private bill (HR 1401) to grant a permanent stay of deportation for Haru Matsui, an anti-militarist author and lecturer. Matsui served in the Office of War Information during the war and is credited with valuable service against Japan.
• Canada Stops Deportation; May Indemnify Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Prime Minister King announced Canada would not proceed with deportations of Japanese Canadians and proposed indemnification for property losses. Restrictions on movement, coastal return, and fishing licenses were nonetheless maintained.
• Nisei Relates Experiences in Shanghai During the War, by John Kitasako, page 5. Tokiji Sugiyama, a San Francisco Nisei, describes surviving the war in Shanghai under suspicion from Japanese authorities and later facing distrust from Chinese and U.S. officials. He returned to the U.S. in July 1946 after six months of passport difficulties.
• Judd Offers Amendment to Immigration Act of 1917, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rep. Walter Judd introduced an amendment to the Immigration Act of 1917 that would allow the Attorney General to suspend deportation of certain aliens ineligible for citizenship, including those who aided the war effort. The measure would affect Japanese Americans who served in U.S. war agencies.

JACL

• Okada Applauds Myer Statement on Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL national president Hito Okada praised WRA director Dillon Myer’s final report calling the mass evacuation unjustified. Okada called on Congress to establish an evacuation claims commission and to modify naturalization laws for aliens of Japanese ancestry.

Arts & Entertainment

• Mine Okubo Speaks to New York Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Artist and author Mine Okubo discussed her book ‘Citizen 13660’ at a meeting of the Women’s National Book Association in New York on Jan. 28.
• Paul Robeson Will Leave Concert Stage for War on Prejudice, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Paul Robeson announced he will leave the concert stage after his current tour to devote two years to combating race hatred and prejudice. He marched with a picket line in St. Louis protesting segregation in a theater.

Commentary

• Mass Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial praises Dillon Myer’s final WRA report for calling the mass evacuation unjustified and for its democratic approach to relocation. It urges the three-point program of claims legislation, naturalization reform, and community readjustment support.
• Alien Land Law, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial criticizes new California Attorney General Howser for continuing Alien Land law prosecutions despite voters’ rejection of Proposition 15. It condemns the law as racist and notes the pending Oyama case before the Supreme Court.
• Fair Employment, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial condemns discrimination by an AFL union against a Nisei worker in Oakland and notes that such prejudice persists in some Pacific coast AFL unions. It calls for fair employment legislation to guarantee equal treatment.
• Documenting the Evacuation, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri argues that a documentary film record of the 1942 evacuation should be made to counter the race-baiting films of past decades. He surveys existing newsreel footage and the 442nd films and proposes a balanced documentary.
• Nisei USA: Documentary Films, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri concludes his argument that documentary films can tell the evacuation story and support the campaign for claims and naturalization equality. He notes that film has been used both for anti-Japanese propaganda and for wartime Army indoctrination.
• Tomorrow’s Heirs: Heifetz, by Sachi L. Wada, page 5. Sachi Wada describes hearing violinist Jascha Heifetz in concert in Minneapolis and reflects on his music’s power. The column moves to a reflection on polio victims and the March of Dimes fundraising.
• From the Frying Pan: Don’t Count on Lump Sum Payment, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa cautions readers not to expect a $1,000 lump-sum indemnity payment for evacuees, predicting congressional opposition. He argues that a claims bill with individual loss documentation is more justifiable than a general payment.
• Vagaries, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A brief news column noting that a Heart Mountain teacher now dances in a Broadway night club, that a Silver Star veteran sought reconsideration of his Civil Service rejection, and other items about Nisei in the news. It also reports on a novel about an American correspondent and a Japanese actress.
• Minnesota City Bans Bias in Employment, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Minneapolis passed a fair employment ordinance by a 21-3 vote making racial or religious discrimination by employers and unions a criminal offense. The measure was backed by Mayor Humphrey and establishes a five-man commission to review complaints.
• Deportation Halted for Japanese Group, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A federal judge in Philadelphia halted the deportation of 21 aliens of Japanese ancestry interned at Seabrook Farms, ordering immigration officials to show cause at a March 24 hearing. The men’s attorneys argued their constitutional rights as long-term residents were violated.

Sports

• San Jose To Hold Invitational Cage Tourney in March, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Jose YBA will host an eight-team invitational basketball tournament March 29-30 at San Jose high school, with $100 in cash prizes and trophies. An awards dance will close the event.
• Jio Nursery Team Takes Championship of Bowling League, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Jio Nursery bowlers won the San Jose United Citizens bowling league championship with 43 wins and 17 losses. The Maggio and Moreno teams tied for second place.
• Aizawa Wins Bout in Idaho Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Kio Aizawa of Jerome, Idaho, won his first round match in the northwest Golden Gloves eliminations, defeating Roy Dutton of Bruneau. He finished strong in the bout.
• Spokane Team Marks Fifth Victory in Cage League, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Grant Street Methodist No. 1 basketball team won its fifth consecutive game with a two-overtime 28-26 victory over Central Lutheran. Everett Matsui and Ben Seojima led the scoring.
• Roy Tokeshi Wins Golden Gloves Bout, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Roy Tokeshi, a promising Nisei featherweight, knocked out John Rhodes in the second round of a Golden Gloves match at Ridgewood Grove in New York on Jan. 17.

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