Remembering the war, 50 years on, and the Troy Shiozawa trial

Vol. 121, No. 5, September 1, 1995. 16 pages. View this issue

Fifty years after the formal end of World War II, Japanese American veterans looked back on their service. Col. Young Oak Kim wrote about the 100th Battalion at Anzio and Biffontaine, Sen. Daniel Inouye thanked the Southern hosts of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at Camp Shelby, and Lt. Gen. Allen Ono and Noboru Kishiue added their own accounts. Also on the front page, JACL members followed the Pocatello, Idaho trial of Troy Shiozawa, who testified that a stabbing was accidental. Some members were concerned about his civil rights.

An issue worth browsing for the JACL scholarship winners, with freshman, undergraduate and graduate profiles over three spread pages. JACL also formed a task force on a discrimination complaint at San Francisco State University, and the Office of Redress Administration planned a San Francisco meeting on payments. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Mei Nakano, Edwin Y. Mitoma and Jin Konomi fill the commentary pages.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Troy Shiozawa Says Stabbing Was Accidental, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Troy Shiozawa, 24, testified that a stabbing incident involving his former stepdaughter Lexie Hill was accidental, and JACL members are watching the Pocatello, Idaho trial closely amid concerns of civil rights violations. Defense attorney Bron Rammell argued the child fell on Shiozawa’s open pocket knife, while prosecutors allege deliberate assault.
• Tatsukawa Memorial Awardees Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Cinematographer Emiko Omori and Filipino community organizer Royal Morales were named recipients of the 1995 Steve Tatsukawa Memorial Fund Award for their contributions to community service and media arts. Omori is known for her documentary work including coverage of the first Manzanar Pilgrimage, while Morales founded SIPA and led the Pacific Asian Alcohol Program.

Incarceration & Redress

• Reflections on War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The article marks the 50th anniversary of the formal end of World War II aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, noting how the war reshaped the Japanese American community. It introduces a series of veteran reflections included in the issue.

Military & Veterans

• At Anzio, at Biffontaine, by Col. Young Oak Kim, page 1. Col. Young Oak Kim recounts the 100th Battalion’s harrowing battles at Anzio and Biffontaine during World War II, describing how the unit was ordered into dangerous missions despite being cut off and low on supplies. He also discusses plans for a veterans monument in Little Tokyo honoring Japanese American soldiers.
• After Acquittal, Wang Hit With Career-Ending Disciplinary Action, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Capt. Jim Wang was acquitted of court martial charges related to the 1994 friendly fire incident in the Persian Gulf but was later disciplined with career-ending punishment by the Air Force. Wang says he feels betrayed and plans to appeal, calling the move unprecedented and a form of double jeopardy.
• For MISer, War’s Victims Were Civilians, by Noboru Kishiue, page 6. Noboru ‘Dick’ Kishiue recalls his service as a Nisei MIS linguist during the Pacific War, describing efforts to persuade Japanese civilians on Saipan and Okinawa to leave hiding rather than commit suicide amid propaganda-driven fear. He notes that MIS linguists’ work is credited with saving over a million lives and shortening the war by two years.
• Inouye Thanks Southerners Who Helped Men of the 442nd RCT, by Daniel Inouye, page 7. Sen. Daniel Inouye recounts dedicating a memorial at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, thanking the Southern officers who trained the 442nd RCT and the citizens of Hattiesburg who welcomed Japanese American troops despite wartime prejudice elsewhere. He credits the unit’s success partly to the hospitality and training received in the South.
• Camp Shelby: First Steps Into History, by Allen Ono, page 7. Lt. Gen. Allen Ono reflects on the legacy of the 100th and 442nd soldiers trained at Camp Shelby, crediting their courage for paving the way for his own record-breaking military career as the highest-ranking Japanese American general. He pays tribute to the people of Hattiesburg and Mississippi for their support of Japanese American soldiers.
• Camp Shelby: First Steps Into History (Continued), by Allen Ono, page 16. Continuing his tribute, Lt. Gen. Allen Ono thanks the soldiers trained at Camp Shelby for setting the example that led to his own historic achievement as the first Japanese American three-star general. He reflects on returning to the camp decades later to honor its significance.

Commentary

• Japan and the Atom Bomb Question, by Frank Nishio, page 1. Frank Nishio reflects on the moral complexities of the atomic bomb, weighing the horror of the weapon against the potential lives saved among soldiers and civilians. He argues that the bomb’s use prevented a divided, Soviet-occupied Japan and shortened a brutal war.
• How to Make a Motion, by Richard C. Ploe, page 3. A parliamentary procedure tip column explains how JACL chapter and district members should properly make, discuss, and vote on motions during meetings. It offers guidance for effective participation in organizational business.
• Words That Remade America, by Rev. George Aki, page 6. Rev. George Aki reflects on his experience as a chaplain with the 442nd RCT, recounting the discrimination Japanese Americans faced before the war and the sacrifices of soldiers who volunteered from internment camps to prove their loyalty. He recalls a 1995 reunion with Dachau Liberators from the 522nd Field Artillery and honors peacemakers like Mary Nakahara.
• JA Museum Pays Tribute to Vets, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Bill Hosokawa previews the Japanese American National Museum’s upcoming ‘National Salute’ honoring Japanese American veterans of all wars, supported by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. He credits Mike Masaoka’s wartime leadership for establishing military service as a path to acceptance for Nisei.
• Chanbara and Violence, by Jin Konomi, page 8. Jin Konomi reminisces about Japanese chanbara sword-fighting films of his childhood and explores why such media violence didn’t seem to inspire real-world violence in Japan. He concludes that moral tradition, more than gun control or media content, determines whether societies turn to violence.
• Doesn’t Like Yasuhara’s Criticism of Nakashima, page 8. A reader from San Mateo, Calif., criticizes JACL President Denny Yasuhara for publicly criticizing Regent Steve Nakashima and objects to JACL’s stance on politically correct issues like same-sex marriage and affirmative action. The writer argues JACL has strayed from its original clear-cut civil rights mission.
• Reader Discovers JA Pro Basketball Player, page 8. A reader from Bellevue, Wash. shares discovering Wataru ‘Wat’ Misaka’s brief NBA career with the New York Knicks in 1947-48, noting he played three seasons before Nat Clifton and Chuck Cooper broke the NBA’s color barrier. The writer expresses interest in learning more about Misaka’s pioneering, largely unnoticed sports history.
• U.S.-Japan Trade: What You Read May Not Be True, by Edwin Y. Mitoma, page 9. Edwin Mitoma critiques U.S. media coverage of U.S.-Japan trade disputes, arguing that both nations engage in protectionist practices and that ‘fair trade’ rhetoric often masks self-serving industry interests. He cites examples including auto trade, rice versus sugar tariffs, and the Motorola cellular phone case to illustrate skewed narratives.
• Beijing Bound, by Mei Nakano, page 9. Mei Nakano describes preparing to attend the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing with a delegation of Japanese American women from NCWNP JACL, despite visa delays from the Chinese government. She discusses the significance of the NGO Forum and issues like poverty, health, and human rights that attendees plan to address.
• The Sansei Creed, by Karl K. Nobuyuki, page 9. Karl Nobuyuki proposes a ‘Sansei Creed’ honoring the sacrifices of the Issei and Nisei generations and committing Sansei and future generations to continue the legacy of civil rights advocacy. The creed emphasizes gratitude, unity, and dedication to preserving Japanese American traditions and achievements.
• Letters to the Editor (Continued), page 16. A reader continues discussing the discovery of Wataru Misaka’s pioneering NBA career, expressing curiosity about his background and whether he faced racism as a player. The letter seeks further historical documentation of Misaka’s overlooked contribution to basketball history.
• U.S.-Japan Trade (Continued), by Edwin Y. Mitoma, page 16. Continuing his analysis, Edwin Mitoma discusses the Motorola cellular telephone trade dispute with Japan and criticizes selective media coverage of trade imbalances. He urges readers to critically evaluate trade reporting rather than accept one-sided narratives.

National

• JACL Looks Into Discrimination Case Against Professor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The NCWNP district of JACL voted to form a task force investigating discrimination and retaliation allegations by Yuko Franklin against San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies department chair Marlon Hom and his wife Lorraine Dong. Franklin claims she was fired and denied job opportunities due to her interracial marriage and views, while Hom denies wrongdoing.
• Korean Teen Pleads Guilty in Bomb Hoax, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Peter Jeune Koh, 18, pleaded guilty to federal charges after placing a fake truck bomb outside a Fort Worth school district building to delay a college calculus test. He was arrested with an assault rifle and other weapons after fleeing with three other youths.
• Nevada Governor Signs Bill to Study Asian Community, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Nevada Gov. Bob Miller signed AB 525, authorizing Clark County to create a commission to study the Asian American community, marking the first bill in Nevada history solely benefiting the Asian Pacific American community. The bill was sponsored by Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom.

JACL

• JACL Scholarship Awards: Freshmen, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The article profiles numerous freshman scholarship winners from JACL chapters nationwide, detailing their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal essays about Japanese American identity and JACL’s impact. Winners include recipients of the Kenji Kasai, Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara, Masao and Sumako Itano, Gongoro Nakamura, Mr. & Mrs. Takashi Moriuchi, South Park Japanese Community, Majiu Uyesugi, Mitsuyuki Yonemura, Sumitomo Bank, and Kyutaro and Yasuo Abiko scholarships.
• JACL Scholarship Awards: Undergraduates, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The article continues profiling JACL scholarship winners at the undergraduate level, showcasing their academic accomplishments, community service, and reflections on Japanese American heritage. Recipients include winners of the Alice Yuriko Endo, Saburo Kido, Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara, Sam S. Kuwahara, Mari and James Michener, Yoshiko Tanaka, Dr. Thomas Y. Yatabe, Sumitomo Bank, and Union Bank scholarships.
• JACL Scholarship Awards: Graduates and Special Awards, by P.C. Staff, page 13. The article profiles graduate-level and special JACL scholarship winners, including recipients pursuing law, medicine, and creative arts, highlighting their academic and community achievements. Special awards mentioned include the Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Law Scholarship, Sho Sato Memorial Law Scholarship, Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara Creative Arts Scholarship, Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Performing Arts Scholarship, and Abe and Esther Hagiwara Memorial Award.
• ORA to Discuss Redress Status, by P.C. Staff, page 14. The Office of Redress Administration will meet with community members in San Francisco to discuss the status of redress payments, with ORA administrator DeDe Greene and counsel Stuart Ishimaru scheduled to attend. Attendees are asked to RSVP by September 6.

Obituaries

• Walter Weglyn, 69, Osako Uno, 101, Die, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Walter Weglyn, husband of author Michi Weglyn and a Kristallnacht survivor who helped research the seminal book ‘Years of Infamy,’ died of cancer at age 69 in San Diego. Osako Uno, 101, a longtime Salt Lake City resident and widow of a WWII veteran who died at Heart Mountain, passed away peacefully at her son’s home.

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