Redress bill S. 1647 and the case for a commission

Vol. 89, No. 55, August 10, 1979. 8 pages. View this issue

Redress led the news in this eight-page issue. Six senators, Inouye, Matsunaga, Hayakawa, Cranston, Church and McClure, co-sponsored S. 1647, a bill to create a commission to study the wartime incarceration (often called internment) under Executive Order 9066. John Tateishi’s column described the campaign’s next phase, with chapter packets and visits to congressmen. A fact sheet from the National JACL Committee for Redress explained why redress was being sought now. Sheridan Tatsuno wrote about Americans who survived the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and still had no help from the U.S. government.

Elsewhere, the front page reported that the Medal of Honor and other decorations of Pfc. Sadao Munemori were enshrined at the Hawaii Army Museum. Bill Yoshino described a Chicago JACL protest over a newspaper column that used a racial slur. Pages 3 and 8 covered Japan’s handling of Indochinese refugees, including Mas Manbo’s column, and Karl Nobuyuki wrote about meeting White House chief of staff Hamilton Jordan.

What’s in this issue

National

• Inouye, Matsunaga, Hayakawa, Cranston, Church, and McClure Co-Sponsor Study Bill for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Six senators introduced S. 1647 to create a commission studying the wartime internment under Executive Order 9066. The bill would hold hearings and report within 18 months on whether redress is warranted.
• Affirmative Job Action in Prison Upheld, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the state Department of Corrections’ affirmative action hiring goals for minorities and women. The ruling overturned a 1977 lower court decision in the Minnick case.
• Japan Searches for Indochinese Aliens, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan launched a nationwide investigation to locate Indochinese refugees who entered on tourist or business passports and overstayed. The Justice Ministry will decide whether they count against the boat people quota.

Military & Veterans

• Munemori’s Medals Enshrined at Ft. DeRussy Army Museum, by P.C. Staff, page 1. In a July 25 ceremony at the Hawaii Army Museum, the Medal of Honor and other decorations of Pfc. Sadao Munemori were displayed. His sisters attended and said the honor fulfilled his wish.

Community

• Great Grandsons First to Climb Mt. Manzo Nagano, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A party of five, including three Yonsei Nagano family members, made the first known ascent of Mt. Manzo Nagano in British Columbia on July 25. They placed a flag, plaque and family crest at the 6,600-foot summit.
• Nisei Heads Harvard’s Study Counsel, by Kei Kaneda, page 2. Kiyo Morimoto, a 442nd veteran and sociologist, became director of Harvard’s Bureau of Study Counsel on July 1. Dean John Fox praised him as a home-grown candidate well suited to the post.
• Japan’s First Viet Refugee Family Glad to Be on Land, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Vietnamese refugee family of four arrived in Tokyo as the first Indochinese refugees admitted under Japan’s quota. Their freighter had earlier rescued about 600 boat people before being stranded in Manila Bay.
• Midwestern Mixup Over Nikkei Fumes, by Bill Yoshino, page 6. A northern Illinois newspaper column opposing redress used the slur Japs, and the editor defended the term. The Chicago JACL’s protest reveals deeper attitudes the author argues must be confronted.
• Staff Workshop, by George Kondo, page 6. The author describes how the NC-WN regional office’s close proximity to National Headquarters shapes its relationship with staff. He argues that staff dedication and member participation both advance JACL’s goals.

Arts & Entertainment

• E-W Players on County-Wide Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The East West Players will present the free summer festival Made in America at Los Angeles County parks on weekends. The production is funded by a $240,000 grant from CBS.
• Joy and Job of Judging Short Stories, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A judge reviews 37 entries in a Japanese American short story contest, praising their craft and authenticity. The columnist encourages writers to tell stories of the camps and the 442nd.

Commentary

• Down to Earth: Ham Jordan, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 2. The author recounts a January 1978 meeting with White House chief of staff Hamilton Jordan, who admitted unfamiliarity with the term Asian American. The column concludes that Nikkei must find ways to gain influence beyond votes and money.
• Looking at Retirement, by Sachi Seko, page 4. The columnist describes a retired executive who started a successful antique clock repair business built on reliability. The piece reflects on second careers and the value of keeping one’s word.
• Affirmative Action Refugee Policy, by Mas Manbo, page 8. The columnist criticizes Japan’s limited acceptance of Vietnamese and Cambodian boat people, noting the country’s population density. He argues the United States bears responsibility for the refugee crisis.

Incarceration & Redress

• In the Wake of Hiroshima, by Sheridan Tatsuno, page 3. An estimated 500-700 Americans, mostly Japanese ancestry, were in Hiroshima or Nagasaki during the bombings and suffer lasting health effects. Survivors have received no U.S. government help and seek medical assistance through pending legislation.
• Redress Phase 2: Shifts Into High Gear, by John Tateishi, page 4. With Senate bill S. 1647 introduced, the redress campaign enters a legislative phase focused on House introduction and congressional visits. Chapters have received packets to help members lobby their representatives.
• Redress Phase 2 Continued: Tateishi, by John Tateishi, page 4. Members are urged to visit their congressmen to support redress before a House bill in September. Individual action is described as key to passing the legislation.
• Question and Answer Fact Sheet: Why Seek Redress?, by National JACL Committee for Redress, page 5. This fact sheet answers questions about the constitutional violations of internment and why redress is sought now. It explains the limits of the 1948 Japanese American Claims Act and the timing of the campaign.

JACL

• Anti-Apathy Campaign, by John J. Saito, page 6. The new PSWDC regional director reflects on National Staff Meetings and a framework called Operation 80s. He compares JACL’s challenge to a firefighting crew needing a more meaningful mission.

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