Winter in the Twin Cities, and a Medal of Honor for Terry Kawamura

Vol. 72, No. 9, March 5, 1971. 6 pages. View this issue

Raymond Uno, the national JACL president, wrote about a cold-weather visit to the Twin Cities and the warm welcome from local members, including old friends from Heart Mountain. Elsewhere on the front page, Cpl. Terry T. Kawamura of Wahiawa was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving fellow soldiers in Vietnam, and Army Sp/5 Dennis M. Fujii of Hanapepe, Kauai, directed artillery and air strikes for four days while stranded at an outpost in Laos. A forum in San Francisco discussed the textbook Japanese Americans: the Untold Story.

Mike Masaoka reported on the push to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act. Bill Hosokawa’s column looked at Norman Mineta’s run for mayor of San Jose. Allan Beekman reviewed a book on Japan’s postwar ties with Asia, and Warren Furutani and Morrie Sadet wrote about JACL staffing and priorities. The issue also covered the 1000 Club’s planned October trip to Tokyo, plus news from chapters in Seattle, Sequoia, Puyallup Valley and Mt. Olympus.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Tale of Twin Cities, by Raymond Uno, page 1. National JACL President Raymond Uno recounts his visit to the Twin Cities, describing the cold weather and warm hospitality he received from local members. He reminisces about old friends from Heart Mountain and comments on the leadership of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
• Washington Newsletter: Title II Repeal Campaign, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka reports on the legislative effort to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act, including the bill’s referral to the House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittee membership. He also notes the failed Senate filibuster cloture vote.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa comments on Norman Mineta’s campaign for mayor of San Jose and Steve Nakashima’s support for him. He also discusses the Japanese American Curriculum Project textbook controversy and James Imai’s business and community activities.
• Speech patterns of Nisei in Hawaii, page 3. A Hawaii speech pathologist discusses how Nisei speech patterns affect communication and health. She advises improved articulation and notes that television has influenced attitudes toward speech.
• Potshots, page 4. A column on the United Methodist Church’s Commission on Religion and Race and the question of integration versus ethnic empowerment for minority congregations. The author, an Asian American young adult representative, reflects on the future of Buddhist and ethnic churches.
• Church in Crisis, page 4. The author argues that Japanese American community institutions are disintegrating through assimilation and calls on the JACL, churches, and youth to respond. The column urges preservation of culture and ethnic identity.
• Dining Out Suggestions and Los Angeles Notes: Lone Wolf Dinner, page 5. A Pacific Citizen columnist reports on a visit to Mt. Olympus and youth activities in Milwaukee. The article covers local chapter events and leadership.
• Univ. of Hawaii news and Honolulu roundup, by Richard Gima, page 5. News from Hawaii covers University of Hawaii board controversy, a proposed medical school, and local government matters. Several community and business developments are also reported.
• Japan in Postwar Asia: Book Review, by Allan Beekman, page 5. Allan Beekman reviews Lawrence Olson’s book on Japan’s postwar relations with Asia, focusing on reparations and economic penetration. He concludes Japan is gaining acceptance in the region through economic ties.
• Eighty-Six: Japanese Girls in the U.S. and Canada, by Robert M. Takasugi, page 6. Robert Takasugi critiques a brochure promoting Japanese women as marriage prospects and advises readers on the misleading content. He reports a state investigation into the publication.
• Letters to the Editor, page 6. Readers respond to recent articles and JACL policies on various topics. Letters address issues within the Japanese American community.
• An Open Letter, by Morrie Sadet, page 6. A reader writes to the editor about JACL’s approach to staffing and funding priorities. The letter urges better community involvement and accountability.

Military & Veterans

• Fujii: 1-man U.S. Army in Laos helps Vietnam soldiers to safety, page 1. Army Sp/5 Dennis M. Fujii of Hanapepe, Kauai, remained stranded for four days at a besieged outpost in Laos, directing artillery and air strikes to aid South Vietnamese Rangers. He was wounded but eventually evacuated, and was awarded a Purple Heart.
• Saved lives of his buddies, Terry Kawamura to be honored, page 1. Cpl. Terry T. Kawamura of Wahiawa was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on an explosive satchel to save fellow soldiers in Vietnam in 1969. His family attended the White House ceremony.

National

• Alert postal clerk aids in capture of two bandits, page 1. A San Diego postal foreman, Arlene Araki, observed a robbery at the downtown post office and provided a description that led police to capture two suspects and recover $125,000. The suspects were charged with armed robbery.
• Literacy test in naturalization hit, page 1. A Chinese woman in San Francisco challenged the constitutionality of English literacy requirements for U.S. citizenship in a federal suit. The suit also asks that naturalization applicants be tested in their native language.
• U.S. visitors in Japan seek human rights, page 3. Foreign residents in Tokyo signed a petition asking the Japanese government to guarantee human rights of belief, speech, and expression in the new immigration bill. The petition followed the expulsion of foreign activists for political participation.

Community

• Puyallup Valley sustains six weeks college forum on Japanese Americans, by John Kanda, page 1. The Puyallup Valley JACL has participated in a weekly social science forum on Asian Americans at Fort Steilacoom Community College. Speakers and panels, including JACL members, presented on community history, traditions, and relations.
• Seattle JACL supports OSU demands at SCCC, page 1. The Seattle JACL board unanimously endorsed the Oriental Students Union’s demand for Asian administrators at Seattle Community College central campus. A resolution citing the lack of a single Asian administrator was adopted.
• Furutani to address St. Louis MDC meet, page 1. National JACL coordinator Warren Furutani will attend the Midwest District Council spring meeting in St. Louis on March 6-7. The chapter president hosting the meeting said it offers a rare chance to meet with national JACL staff.
• Nine NC-WNDC chapters administer own Blue Cross plan, benefits increase, by Phil Matsumura, page 1. Nine Northern California JACL chapters administer their own JACL-Blue Cross health plan, which began in San Jose in 1947. The chapter-controlled plan offers increasing benefits and lower costs through pooled claim experience.
• Need textbook on Nikkei, page 1. A Feb. 19 community forum in San Francisco discussed the controversial textbook Japanese Americans: the Untold Story. Panelists debated its accuracy, and the consensus was that California schools need a good book on Japanese Americans.
• Chicano woman raps Elks at Watsonville fete, by Fred Nitta, page 1. At a Watsonville Chamber of Commerce awards dinner, Mexican-American honoree Grace Arceneslux accused the Elks Club of racism. Her remarks drew attention to discrimination in the community.
• Japan may build 2nd Panama Canal, page 3. Panamanian leader Gen. Omar Torrijos said Japan had offered to finance a second canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific. Other countries had also shown interest.
• Japanese scientists in Little Tokyo checking on child growth patterns, page 3. Three Japanese scientists are studying 395 Japanese American children in Los Angeles to compare growth patterns with those in Japan. Preliminary results show little difference, with notable dietary findings.
• Girls’ Day dolls shown by Sequoia JACL, page 4. Sequoia JACL hosted a Girls’ Day program featuring traditional Japanese dolls, with an explanation of the festival by a Japanese student. Children and friends attended the event.
• Drug abuse subject for Mt. Olympus meeting, by Shig Motoki, page 4. Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Dale Elton spoke to the Mt. Olympus JACL about drug abuse, describing drug categories and effects. He stressed education and communication with youth as the key to prevention.
• 1000 Clubbers mounting interest for Universal whing ding at Tokyo Oct. 22, by Frank Sakamoto, page 4. Frank Sakamoto reports on preparations for the 1000 Club’s Universal Whing Ding trip to Tokyo in October, with delegations from various cities. Many members plan family reunions in Japan during the trip.
• Milwaukee 1000ers get ready for Japan trip, page 4. The Milwaukee JACL 1000 Club staged a humorous theatrical preview of its October Japan trip. Members learned about travel customs and what to expect in Japan.
• On Second Thought, by Warren Furutani, page 6. Warren Furutani reflects on staffing, community service, and the role of JACL in addressing community needs. He calls for continued support for the JACS-AI office.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.