Vol. 62, No. 4, January 28, 1966. 4 pages. View this issue
The JACL-CPS group health plan of the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council led the issue. It proved a bargain in its first year, with claims exceeding what members paid in, and new rates and benefits were set to start in March. Also on the front page, historian Robert A. Wilson took over as director of the Japanese American Research Project at UCLA. Elsewhere, Masao Satow reported on 1966 membership, Howard M. Imazeki asked whether JACL’s non-partisan policy should change, and Capt. Roy Kobayashi, a West Point graduate, was reported killed in an ambush in Vietnam.
The four pages also carry chapter news: installation dinners in Contra Costa, San Fernando Valley and Arkansas Valley, San Francisco’s drive for 1,800 members, and a new endowment fund in Oakland. A history installment tells the story of Hikozo Hamada, who became Joseph Heco. Dave Hara described the Jr. JACL resource committee.
What’s in this issue
Community
- NC-WNDC Group Health Plan Bargain of ’65; Rates to Be Upped Starting in March; New Benefits Added, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL-CPS group health plan of the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council proved to be a bargain for participants in its first year, with claims exceeding quarterly payments. New quarterly rates take effect in March, though new benefits such as higher physician visit payments were also added.
- Don’t Become Too Americanized, Contra Costa Told, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sonoma State sociologist Dr. Stanford Lyman warned Nisei at the Contra Costa JACL installation dinner against becoming too Americanized and urged preservation of cultural heritage. Ben Takeshita was installed as chapter president.
- Silver Pin Presentation Highlights Fernando Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Harry Otsuki received the JACL silver pin for at least ten years of service at the San Fernando Valley chapter installation dinner. John Kaneko was sworn in as 1966 president.
- Arkansas Valley Installs ’66 Cabinet, by Sandra Konishi, page 4. Gene Hirakata was installed as Arkansas Valley JACL president at a January dinner in Rocky Ford, Colorado. The chapter’s history since its 1950 founding and its community activities were also recounted.
- San Francisco Pushing for 1,800 Members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The San Francisco JACL, which reached 1,704 members in 1965, set a 1966 goal of 1,800 members and 150 1000 Club members. Membership team captains were named to lead the drive.
- Oakland Starts Own Endowment Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Oakland JACL chapter established an endowment fund for special contributions, which now totals $790. Possible uses include a chapter scholarship fund or a chapter building.
Obituaries
- Wartime JACL Sponsor Robert Benjamin Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert M. Benjamin, a wartime National JACL sponsor and charter member of New York JACL, died Jan. 17 at age 69. An attorney and state official, he had served on the Alien Enemy hearing board during World War II and was long active in public education.
- Mrs. Marjorie Meyer Remembered for Wartime Aid, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Miss Marjorie Meyer, longtime secretary to Edward J. Ennis and special counsel to JACL after the war, died recently. She was remembered as a friend to Japanese Americans who sought help from the Justice Department.
In-Depth
- Dr. Wilson Assumes Directorship of Japanese History Project at UCLA, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Historian Robert A. Wilson assumed directorship of the Japanese American Research Project at UCLA after a Carnegie Corporation grant was announced. Wilson said early findings suggest the Issei valued disciplined family life and social cohesion, and that Sansei juvenile delinquency remains below the norm.
JACL
- Dinecor’s Report: 1966 Membership, by Masao Satow, page 2. National JACL Director Masao Satow reports that Northern California-Western Nevada chapters have remitted about 4,300 of 5,700 memberships, with San Jose leading at 1,121. He also notes organizational matters including missing chapter officer reports and a Southern California trip.
- Ole ’66: The Resource Committee, by Dave Hara, page 4. Dave Hara, chair of the national Jr. JACL resource committee, describes the committee’s purpose as a clearing house of information for chapters and individuals. He invites chapters to send materials and requests for information.
Commentary
- What’s Wrong Being Political?, by Howard M. Imazeki, page 2. Hokubei Mainichi editor Howard Imazeki questions whether JACL’s non-partisan policy should be re-examined to allow chapters and the national director to take political stands. He raises the issue after a mix-up over JACL and JADAC identities at a Negro Political Action Association conference.
Military & Veterans
- West Point Sansei Graduate Killed in Viet Cong Ambush, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Capt. Roy Kobayashi, a West Point graduate, was killed by a Viet Cong ambush on his 26th birthday while commanding an engineer company in Vietnam. He is believed to be the fifth Japanese American soldier killed in Vietnam.
Incarceration & Redress
- Castaways Leave Mark on History, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This installment of the JACL-UCLA history project recounts the 1850 rescue of Hikozo Hamada, who became Joseph Heco after being picked up by an American ship. It describes his life in San Francisco and Washington and his later naturalization as a U.S. citizen.
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.