Nisei in the Korean War, and a war correspondent heads east

Vol. 31, No. 5, August 5, 1950. 8 pages. View this issue

The Korean War ran through this issue. Bill Hosokawa of the Denver Post left for the war zone as the paper’s first fully accredited war correspondent, planning to report on the fighting and on Japan. Pfc. Jack C. Arakawa, a 442nd Combat Team veteran from Honolulu, was reported killed near Taejon, and Pfc. Richard M. Watanabe and Pfc. Tomio Tadaki were reported missing. Pfc. James M. Mayeda of Los Angeles was wounded, and Sgt. Haruo Sasaki of Sacramento was the lone survivor of a C-47 crash near Tokyo.

Elsewhere, Congress passed private bills admitting Japanese wives and fiancees of servicemen, and Mike Masaoka urged action on the Soldier Brides bill. Lawrence Nakatsuka wrote about the equality guarantees in Hawaii’s new constitution, and Larry Tajiri argued against interning Communists in the old camps. Sports coverage followed Ford Konno’s world record in the 1500 meters.

What’s in this issue

National

  • Hosokawa Leaves for Korea as First War Correspondent in History of Denver Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bill Hosokawa, assistant Sunday editor of the Denver Post, departed for the Korean war zone as the first fully accredited war correspondent in the Post’s history. He will also take photographs and report on the war’s effect on Japan and the people of the Far East.
  • Congress Passes Bill to Admit Mother of Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congress passed a private law to readmit the Japanese widow of a Japanese American citizen, who had returned to Japan in the 1930s. The bill, introduced at the JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee’s request, now awaits the President’s signature.
  • JACL Joins Call for City Ordinance Banning Race Bias in Slum Clearance Program, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles civic groups, including the JACL, testified before a City Council planning committee supporting an ordinance against discrimination in urban redevelopment. The committee moved to forward the ordinance to the full council without opposition.
  • Senate Passes Private Bills for GI Brides, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Senate passed and sent to the President 26 private bills admitting Japanese wives, fiancees and minor children of American servicemen and veterans. A separate bill admitting a fiancee of a veteran was sent to the House.
  • House Group Votes to Extend Provisions of GI Brides Bill at Request of JACL ADC, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the McCarran Soldier Brides bill after extending its time limit from 90 days to six months. The JACL ADC had requested the change.
  • Masaoka Urges Early House Action on GI Brides Bill, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka urged the House Judiciary Committee to act on the McCarran Soldier Brides bill and extend its 90-day limit. He argued troops will remain in the Orient for years, making such marriages likely.
  • Hawaii State Constitution Includes Specific Guarantees of Equality for All Race Groups, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Hawaii’s new state constitution guarantees equal protection regardless of race, bars segregation in the militia and public schools, and protects against racial discrimination. The provisions reflect lessons drawn from mainland state constitutions.
  • Innocent Plea Entered in N.Y. Forgery Case, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Toshio Ted Yamamoto of Sloughhouse, Calif., pleaded innocent in New York to forgery for allegedly obtaining $450 using a relative’s name. He was remanded to jail pending trial.
  • House Passes Bill to Repay Hawaii Nisei Fishing Craft Impounded by Army After Pearl Harbor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The House passed a private bill to compensate Kenji Takumi $2,428.25 for his sampan, impounded and destroyed by the army after the Pearl Harbor attack. The army acknowledged its responsibility for maintaining the vessel.
  • Justice Department Plans to Open New Evacuee Claims Offices in Chicago, Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asst. Attorney General H. Graham Morison said the Justice Department hopes to open permanent evacuation claims offices in Chicago and Washington. Temporary offices will handle interviews where permanent offices are not established.
  • Legion Group Seeks Land Law Amendment, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Eighth District American Legion council approved a resolution calling for an exemption to the California Alien Land law for parents of Japanese American veterans. The resolution will go to the state convention in August.
  • Conference Report May Restore House Version of Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Senate conferees have not signed the House-Senate conference report on the Walter Resolution, which would restore the House version eliminating race as a naturalization requirement. A meeting was expected soon.
  • President Signs Bill Admitting Japanese Mother, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The President signed a private bill admitting a Japanese widow and her daughter to permanent residence, and Congress passed several other private bills for Japanese wives and fiancees of servicemen. The bills were pushed by the JACL ADC.

Military & Veterans

  • Hawaiian Nisei Reported Missing in Korean War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Defense Department reported Pfc. Richard M. Watanabe of Honolulu missing in action in Korea, the second Hawaiian Nisei reported missing or killed. Pfc. Jack Arakawa had previously been reported killed in combat.
  • Nisei Recovers From Korean War Injuries, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Relatives of Sgt. Paul M. Yamagiwa of Sacramento were notified of his recovery from combat wounds suffered in Korea. The notice came from an army hospital in Tokyo.
  • California Nisei Seriously Hurt in Korean War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. James M. Mayeda of Los Angeles was wounded in action in Korea, the first mainland Nisei reported wounded in the UN police action. He had reenlisted after a furlough and served with the 8th Cavalry.
  • Hawaiian Nisei GI Reported Killed, One Missing in Action, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Jack C. Arakawa of Honolulu, a 442nd Combat Team veteran, was killed in action near Taejon, and Pfc. Tomio Tadaki was reported missing. Arakawa’s widow and two children live in Honolulu.
  • Honor Student in ROTC Wins Army Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Lt. Roy Nakashima of Honolulu received a permanent regular army commission for his outstanding ROTC work at the University of Hawaii. He graduated in June and was assigned to a field artillery unit.
  • Japanese American Sergeant Only Survivor in C-47 Crash, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sgt. Haruo Sasaki of Sacramento was the sole survivor of a July 27 C-47 crash near Tokyo that killed 25 people. He was found by Japanese fishermen suffering from shock and exposure.
  • Sgt. Sasaki Is Veteran of War in Pacific, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sgt. Haruo Sasaki, the only survivor of a C-47 crash, is a South Pacific combat veteran and former Sacramento resident. His family is in Japan and he speaks Japanese, Korean and some Chinese.
  • Ten Nisei Enlist in Army in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ten Nisei were among 38 young men sworn into the army in Honolulu, with Senator Wilfred Tsukiyama speaking on behalf of the parents. The enlistees trained at Schofield Barracks, most heading to the Far East in October.
  • 100th Battalion Veteran Plans Hawaiian Statehood Mission, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Spark M. Matsunaga, a Harvard law student and former 100th Battalion captain, accepted a mission to Washington to promote Hawaiian statehood for Club 100. Club 100 and the 442nd Veterans Club jointly urged Senate approval.

JACL

  • List Four More Nominations for Nisei Leadership Award, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The JACL National Recognitions Committee released nominations for Peter Fujioka, Hiroshi Uyehara, Harry Miyake and Shigeki Ushio. Each nominee is profiled for community service, chapter leadership and contributions to Nisei welfare.
  • Shigeki Ushio Nominated, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Shigeki Ushio is nominated for a JACL leadership award for his service in Salt Lake City and Mt. Olympus chapters and the Intermountain District Council. The profile also notes his farm, civic and church activities.

Community

  • Nori Hatasaka Takes Lead in Denver Queen Race, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Nori Hatasaka leads the Denver JACL queen contest with 9,710 votes, followed by Yoshiye Yamaga. Several candidates received over 5,000 votes, and a tea reception honored the contestants.
  • Utah Child Dies in Auto Mishap, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two-year-old Nancy Tashiro died in a Salt Lake City hospital after being struck by a backing car in her parents’ driveway. State troopers reported the driver had brought a customer to the family’s orchard.
  • Magnuson Urges Enlistment of Japanese Aliens, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Warren Magnuson introduced a bill to authorize voluntary enlistment of Japanese nationals in the U.S. armed forces. The item is a brief news report of the proposal.
  • Sachi Kazunaga Still Leading in Nisei Queen Race, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sachi Kazunaga leads the Los Angeles Nisei Week queen contest by nearly 3,000 votes over Taney Yasui’s second-place total. The winner will preside over the August 19-27 festivities.
  • Ventura Chapter Arranges Burial of Issei Bachelor, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Ventura County JACL arranged burial for Iwao Kihachi, an indigent Issei who died in July at the county hospital. Services were conducted at the Oxnard Buddhist Temple.
  • Judge Hears Damage Suits Over Explosion, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Thirty-four damage suits totaling about $3.5 million were heard in Los Angeles over the 1947 O’Connor Electroplating explosion that killed 17 people, including two Nisei women. Four other women of Japanese ancestry were injured.
  • Detroit Begins Campaign for ADC Contributions, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Detroit JACL launched a campaign with a $1,000 goal to raise funds for the Anti-Discrimination Committee. Louis Furukawa and Taizo Kokubo chair the drive.
  • JACL Conducted Survey on Attitudes of Nisei Group, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. A historical account describes a 1941 JACL survey of Nisei attitudes and conditions in Japanese communities, which was reported to Navy Intelligence. The article refutes rumors that the JACL informed on Issei leaders.
  • Eden Township Plans Bazaar for Convention Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Eden Township JACL will hold a two-day bazaar and carnival at Ashland Gakuen to raise funds to send a delegate to the Chicago convention. Games, food and concessions are planned.
  • Center Opens Class in Sketching, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Ellis community center in Chicago launched a summer sketching class taught by Yukio Nakamura. Weekly sessions focus on fundamentals using still life and life models.
  • Kusaka Estate Funds Will Go to Prize Award, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The estate of Dr. Shuichi Kusaka, a physicist who drowned in 1947, will fund a memorial physics prize. Japanese Canadians raised much of the money for the award.
  • French Camp JACL Plans Informal Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The French Camp JACL will hold a stag and staggette dance at the French Camp hall on August 12. Tickets are sold at the door for 75 cents.
  • Uchida Attends Democratic Party Meet in Salt Lake City, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ken Uchida, Bill Mizuno and Helen Shimizu attended the Utah Democratic convention and thanked Senator Thomas and Representative Granger for their support. Both lawmakers praised Mike Masaoka’s work in Washington.
  • Wedding, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Kazuko Shibahara and Shigeru Honda were married in a double ring ceremony at Grant Street Methodist church in Spokane. Rev. S. Shimada officiated.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Ronald Gallegos Will Sing in JACL Show in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Central California JACL variety show in Fresno will feature tenor Ronald Gallegos and other local performers. The free public program will also present a 1950 Chevrolet to a contest winner.

In-Depth

  • Dr. Kimura Studies Radioisotope Technique at Nuclear Institute, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Kazuo K. Kimura, a pharmacology instructor at St. Louis University, is studying radioisotope techniques at Oak Ridge as one of 82 scientists. He plans to use them in drug metabolism research.

Commentary

  • Prejudice and Text Books, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial examines a study finding American textbooks contain errors that reinforce prejudice against minorities, including Chinese, Japanese and Negro Americans. It argues texts must be updated to reflect modern understanding of intergroup relations.
  • Let the Barbed-Wire Rust, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri argues against proposals to intern American Communists in former relocation camps, warning that mass evacuation was a wartime mistake. He contends the proper response is prosecution of overt acts rather than political beliefs.
  • Hawaii’s New Constitution, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 5. Hawaii’s constitution guarantees racial equality and includes protections for native Hawaiians. The document was signed July 22 and awaits ratification and congressional approval.
  • Between Carbons, by Al T. Miyadi, page 6. Al Miyadi criticizes wartime profiteering on used cars and haircuts and condemns Senator Joseph McCarthy’s smear campaign against individuals. He argues McCarthy has introduced a fear of association that stifles liberal thought.

Sports

  • Dream Comes True for Sad Sam, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dado Marino won a unanimous decision over Terry Allen to become flyweight champion of the world, a victory for manager Sad Sam Ichinose. Marino is the first American to hold the flyweight title in 20 years.
  • Fans Chip In for Speedboat Pilot, by Marvin McCarthy, page 6. Preston Morishige was thrown into Sloan’s Lake after his speedboat crashed during a Denver regatta. Rival drivers rescued him and fans raised $75 to help cover damage to his boat.
  • Salt Lake Nisei Wins ‘135’ Race at Denver Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Harry Aoki of Salt Lake City won the 135 hydroplane race at Sloan’s Lake in Denver with a time of 5:02.5. He also posted the best time in the combined event.
  • Yonamine Now 7th in Pioneer Batting Race, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Wally Yonamine of the Salt Lake Bees was hitting .335 in seventh place in the Pioneer League as of August 3. The article details his recent games and his centerfield play.
  • Ford Konno Tops World Record in 1500 Meters, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Honolulu swimmer Ford Konno set a new world record of 18:44.4 in the 1500-meter freestyle in Tokyo, defeating Australia’s John Marshall. The upset gave the United States an early lead in the dual meet.
  • Hawaii Nisei Beats Marshal, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ford Konno, a 17-year-old Honolulu high school swimmer, set a new world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, beating Marshall and Japan’s Shiro Hashizume. The victory gave the United States a 13-8 lead on the first day.
  • Coach Sakamoto’s Hawaiians Defend U.S. Swimming Crown, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Coach Soichi Sakamoto’s Hawaii Swimming Club team, including several Nisei swimmers, is favored to defend its AAU national team title in High Point, N.C. Evelyn Kawamoto and Thelma Kalama are expected to be key scorers.
  • Pick Four Nisei Stars to Join U.S.-Bound Nine, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Four Nisei players were added to the Honolulu Braves for the National Baseball Congress in Wichita, Kansas. The squad includes Masayoshi Gunda, Larry Yagi, Jimmy Wasa and Richard Kashiwaeda.
  • Ford Konno Holds U.S. Hopes in Middle Distances, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ford Konno and Jimmy McLane were expected to lead American hopes in the middle-distance freestyle events against Japanese swimmers in the dual meet. Konno had recently set national and world records in Seattle.
  • San Jose Zebras Will Play Hawaiian All Stars, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The San Jose Zebras will host the Hawaiian All Stars at Municipal Stadium before the team travels to the National Semi-pro tournament in Wichita. The Hawaiian squad is made up of Honolulu Braves players and others.
  • First National Nisei Links Tourney Planned in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Midwest Golf Association is sponsoring the first national Nisei amateur golf tournament at St. Andrews in Chicago on September 25-27. Entries are open to Nisei golf clubs and individuals, and the event precedes the JACL national convention.

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