The 442nd’s rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion, 21 years on

Vol. 61, No. 18, October 29, 1965. 6 pages. View this issue

The 21st anniversary of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion opened this six-page issue. A front-page editorial recalled the rescue in northeastern France and urged young Japanese Americans who evade the draft to keep faith with the patriotism of earlier generations. Nearby, JACL membership was reported at an all-time high of 22,100, and Robert A. Wilson wrote about the JACL and UCLA oral history project and its need for more interviewers.

Inside, Bill Hosokawa’s column described a Mainichi correspondent’s visit to Denver, and Bill Marutani reported on student boycotts and marches in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Carol Hasegawa wrote from Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer, and Tad Imoto profiled the San Diego convention board chairs. Other front-page stories covered the Nobel Prize in physics, skid-row buildings in Seattle, and the racial admissions policy of the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• Draft Dodgers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The editorial marks the 21st anniversary of the rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It urges Japanese American youth who evade the draft to keep faith with the patriotism of earlier generations.

Community

• Dr. Wilson Active Director of SSE Story, page 1. Robert A. Wilson, director of the JACL and UCLA Japanese American oral history project, reports that interviewers are being cited as real heroes but more are needed. The project has continued during his three-year work on it.
• 22,100 Members Enrolled for JACL’s Nat’l All-Time High, page 1. JACL membership reached an all-time high of 22,100 members. The gains were attributed to chapter membership drives.
• Foods from Japan Shown at Trade Center, page 1. Japanese food products were displayed at the Japan Trade Center in Los Angeles. New items included a golden yogurt and a plum drink.
• Membership Drive Slogan ‘Go for Broke’, page 1. The American Legion First District launched a membership drive under the slogan ‘Go for Broke.’ The name recalls the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
• Against the KKK in Bogalusa, by Bill Marutani, page 3. Negro students in Bogalusa, Louisiana, staged a school boycott and march in defiance of a state court injunction. Marutani reports on the civil rights demonstrations and the legal response.
• Heard in the Pacific Citizen Editorial Room, page 3. A short note recounts a personal anecdote about lost mail and a pipe. It also thanks staff for their help.
• Jr. JACL Jottings, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Brief chapter news items cover Long Beach-Harbor JACL installation plans and youth awards. Events for several chapters are listed.
• Frankly Speaking: Carol Hasegawa, Peace Corpsman in Nepal, by Carol Hasegawa, page 4. A Peace Corps volunteer writes about life in Nepal, including language difficulties and the challenges of the monsoon season. She describes the rewarding experience of helping people learn to help themselves.
• San Francisco JACL Year-End Reflection, by Gene Basan, page 5. The San Francisco JACL reflects on its activities, including its traditional New Year’s Eve dance as a fundraiser. The chapter discusses how to continue attracting Nisei and Sansei members.
• Swan Song for a Board Member, page 5. A departing board member reflects on his service and the progress of the chapter. He urges continued support for the organization’s work.
• Tad Imoto Profiles San Diego Convention Board Chairs, by Tad Imoto, page 6. Tad Imoto profiles the leaders of the San Diego JACL convention board, describing their backgrounds and family ties. He highlights their roles in chapter activities.
• Firing Line Finale, page 6. The column concludes with a final commentary on JACL activities and community life. It closes the series of pieces on local chapter leaders.

National

• Skid-Row in Seattle Eyed, page 1. Local officials in Seattle began a movement to raze or upgrade skid-row buildings. Many hotel operators in the area are Japanese American, and investigation of some 250 hotels and lodgings was under way.
• Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Japanese and American Scientists, page 1. Two Americans and a Japanese physicist, Dr. Shinichiro Tomonaga of Tokyo University, were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for work on quantum electrodynamics. Their contributions advanced understanding of elementary particles.
• Dr. Murai to Retain Top Customs Post in Honolulu, page 1. Dr. Everett Murai, collector of customs in Honolulu, will keep his top pay post under the reorganization of the Customs Service. The Honolulu office became one of six districts under San Francisco.
• Kamehameha Schools Racial Admissions Policy Questioned, page 1. The Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii, founded by a wealthy trust, admit only students of native Hawaiian descent. Critics argue the policy violates constitutional guarantees of equal treatment.
• Angumexis Claims Under Japanese American Property Compensation, page 1. Attorneys representing Japanese American property claimants won a Court of Appeals decision regarding prewar property losses. The ruling concerned claims that were previously denied.

Commentary

• Need for JACL Clear as Long as Bigots Active, Says Portland JACLer, by Bev. Waichi Ouchi, page 1. A Portland JACL member argues that the need for the JACL persists so long as bigotry continues. He cites hate publications and organized racist groups as evidence.
• Frankly Speaking, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on a Mainichi correspondent’s visit to Denver to research a series on Nisei and Sansei. He observes that few Japanese Americans hold top business positions, attributing this to their short time in the professional world.

In-Depth

• Nichiren Sect Seeks Membership in Hawaii, page 1. The Soka Gakkai, a Japanese Buddhist sect, is expanding its membership in Hawaii through proselytizing and material benefits. The movement’s growth has drawn attention as a significant political and religious force.

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.