Casualties in France and the debate over Japanese Americans returning west

Vol. 19, No. 22, December 2, 1944. 8 pages. View this issue

News from the European front led this eight-page issue. Reports told of eight Japanese American soldiers killed and 46 wounded in France, with the War Department’s official lists still to come. The paper also covered brothers wounded on the same day, a Pasadena honor roll for 109 servicemen, and the Silver Star awarded to Lieut. Tetsu Ebata. The War Relocation Authority reported that 29,740 people had resettled across 47 states.

The long-running argument over return to the West Coast filled much of the middle pages. Editorials took up the War Department’s new policy letting Japanese aliens volunteer for the Army, and Colorado soldiers’ vote against an alien land amendment. Voices on both sides appeared, among them Roger Baldwin of the ACLU, Governor Earl Warren, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Edgar Rice Burroughs. A GI’s letter to Ann Nisei and the Tule Lake families bound for Texas round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• Eight Japanese Americans Killed, 46 Others Wounded On U.S. Seventh Army Front, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Eight Japanese American soldiers were reported killed and 46 wounded in action in France, according to information received by next of kin. Casualty lists from the War Department were still pending at the time of publication.
• Pasadenans Honor Nisei GIs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pasadena dedicated an honor roll recognizing 109 Japanese American servicemen at a ceremony attended by more than 75 people. A Gold Star was dedicated to Pvt. Henry Kondo, the first Nisei from Pasadena killed in action.
• Two Brothers Hurt On Same Day On French Front, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Brothers Pfc. John Yoneo and Pvt. Charles M. Murakami were both wounded on October 17 while serving with the 442nd in France. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Shuishi Murakami of Brigham, Utah.
• Three Heart Mountain Soldiers Reported Wounded in France, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Heart Mountain reported one death and three wounded servicemen in the past week, according to the Sentinel. Pfc. Teruo Ted Fujioka was killed while on a special mission.
• Japanese American Troops Baffle Germans in France, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Wounded Japanese American soldiers at Camp Edwards described how they used Japanese on telephone lines to confuse German eavesdroppers. Several Nisei veterans in evacuation hospitals shared accounts of their service in Italy and France.
• War Department Identifies Seven Killed, Three Wounded, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The War Department identified seven Americans of Japanese ancestry killed and three wounded in action in the European and Mediterranean areas. Next of kin for each soldier are listed by name and location.
• Pvt. Okura Dies in Action, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Pvt. Susumu Okura of Omaha, a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, was killed in France on November 2. He was the youngest of four sons, and a memorial service was held in Omaha.
• Widow Advised of Silver Star Awarded to Nisei Officer, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Louise Kramer Ebata of La Crosse, Wisconsin was informed that her husband, Lieut. Tetsu Ebata, posthumously received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He was killed in action with the 100th Infantry Battalion in the Rome campaign.
• Hails Combat Soldiers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion were honored at a special event at Fort Ord. Brig. Gen. Benjamin C. Lockwood Jr. praised the combat record of Japanese American units.
• 262 Casualties Reported Among WRA Center Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The WRA reported 262 casualties among Japanese American servicemen from relocation centers, including 20 killed in recent heavy fighting on the western front. WRA director Dillon S. Myer noted actual losses may be higher since not all evacuees are counted.

National

• War Relocation Agency Says Evacuees Now Relocated in Forty-Seven States of Union, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The War Relocation Authority reported that 29,740 evacuees have resettled in all states except South Carolina. Illinois leads the nation in relocations, with Chicago receiving the largest number.
• Colorado Group Asks Military to Lift Exclusion, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce board requested that the War Department lift restrictions so persons of Japanese ancestry may return to the West Coast. The request was made by secretary-manager Donald D. Keim.
• Shimadas Return To Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Shimada and their two daughters received exemption certificates and are leaving Madison, Wisconsin for Los Angeles. The family previously lived in Los Angeles before evacuation.
• Record Rapped by Editor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Frank A. Clarvoe, editor of the San Francisco News, called California’s race relations record shameful in a Stanford lecture. He argued that minority problems will be among the most pressing postwar issues.
• Kilsoo K. Haan Attacks Church Program on Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kilsoo K. Haan, Washington representative of the Korean People’s League, argued against allowing Japanese Americans to return to the West Coast. He accused American churches of spending large sums to make the return possible.
• Tule Lake Families Leave for Texas, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The WRA announced that 56 women and children from the Tule Lake Segregation Center will be reunited with husbands and fathers held at a Department of Justice camp in Crystal City, Texas. Thirteen families were involved in the transfer.
• Henry Ebihara Reported First Volunteer Under New Ruling, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Henry Ebihara, born in Tokyo, became the first non-citizen of Japanese ancestry to volunteer for the U.S. Army under a new War Department policy. He had previously volunteered after Pearl Harbor and said he wants to fight Japanese fascists.
• Notify Local Draft Boards Of New Policy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The War Department announced that aliens of Japanese ancestry may volunteer for U.S. Army service, subject to War Department review of loyalty and other factors. Selective service headquarters sent local boards a memorandum outlining the procedure.
• Gov. Warren Tells Denver Newspaper Of State’s Attitude, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Governor Earl Warren of California told the Rocky Mountain News that the state will fully recognize the constitutional rights of evacuees when they return. He also indicated he had opposed their return to the West Coast at the present time.

Community

• Rohwer Soldier Succumbs to Battle Wounds, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Kay K. Masaoka of Rohwer was killed in action in France after being previously reported wounded. Three other servicemen from the center were also reported wounded in recent action.
• Fresno OPA Finds No Violation by Returned Evacuee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Fresno OPA closed an investigation into a returned evacuee after finding no regulations had been violated. The inquiry had centered on use of a sister-in-law’s car due to gasoline shortages.
• Stanford Daily Says Economic Interests Oppose Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Stanford Daily editorial urged the return of Japanese American evacuees and argued that constitutional rights must be upheld. It charged that economic pressure groups were behind resistance to the return.
• AFL Typographical Union Welcomes Evacuee Linotypist, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Harry T. Yasuda, a former San Francisco linotypist, has gained full membership in the Rochester, N.Y. typographical union. Employers and the relocation officer praised his work and cooperation.
• Official Finds 800 Relocated On West Coast, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Rep. John Z. Anderson reported that 800 excluded persons of Japanese ancestry have been permitted to return to the West Coast. He urged public announcement of the policy and insisted citizens must receive full constitutional rights.
• Nisei Fullback Scores as Drake Loses to Wichita, by P.C. Staff, page 8. George Kita, Drake’s Nisei fullback, scored a touchdown in his final collegiate game as Drake lost 13-14 to Wichita. Kita was primarily a blocking back who helped teammate Del Cockayne score many touchdowns.

Commentary

• Issei Volunteers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises the War Department’s new policy allowing alien Japanese to volunteer for U.S. Army service, noting the policy reflects confidence in Japanese American loyalty. It observes that many of these non-citizens were brought to America as small children and are essentially American.
• The Soldier Vote, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Colorado soldier voters rejected an anti-alien land ownership amendment by roughly three to one, contradicting claims that returning soldiers oppose Japanese American rights. The editorial argues that servicemen across the country support equal rights for all Americans regardless of ancestry.
• Recognition, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial reports that the Peoria Journal-Transcript observed Japanese American troops suffer heavy casualties partly from efforts to prove their loyalty. It notes such recognition is becoming more widely known.
• Nisei Future, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Washington Post editorial on Nisei futures argues the emergency justifying evacuation no longer applies and continued exclusion is unwarranted. It supports compensation for evacuee losses and calls for equal treatment of Japanese Americans.
• Ilmmm, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Rep. Jack Z. Anderson said he was not contacted about James K. Yamamoto’s return to Cupertino. The San Francisco Chronicle questioned whether Congress should be notified about the movements of residents in their districts.
• Nisei Sisters Learn Husbands Killed, Wounded in France, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Three Japanese American sisters in Cincinnati learned in one week that their husbands were battle casualties in France. Sgt. Kitsuse was killed while the husbands of the other two sisters were wounded.
• Suggestions to Deport Issei ‘Monstrous,’ Says Burroughs, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Edgar Rice Burroughs condemned a Nevada American Legion proposal to deport Japanese aliens after the war as monstrous. He suggested instead that parents of servicemen be granted citizenship.
• State Body Plans Educational Campaign on Return Of Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Mateo County unit of the West Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play announced an educational program on the return of evacuees. The group outlined policies to promote goodwill and counter false propaganda.
• Americans League Hits Relocation Policy of WRA, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Americans League of California accused the War Relocation Authority of conducting propaganda operations to weaken opposition to the return of Japanese Americans to the Pacific coast. Its executive secretary said WRA officials were touring the country seeking sympathy.
• Reports Coast View Toward Nisei Better, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Roger Baldwin of the ACLU said hostility to the return of loyal Japanese Americans appears to be declining in California. He described the mass evacuation as somewhat hysterical.
• Bill of Rights Applies to Nisei, Says San Jose Paper, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Jose Mercury Herald editorial declared that the Bill of Rights applies to Japanese Americans and that loyal Nisei should be welcomed back. It noted that no act of sabotage by Japanese Americans had been proven.
• Native Sons Claim Credit for Passage Of Exclusion Act, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Ray Williamson, grand president of the Native Sons of the Golden West, praised the 1924 Asiatic Exclusion Act at a Sacramento meeting. He claimed the Act prevented a far larger Japanese population in California.
• Ann Nisei’s Column, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A GI stationed in the Netherlands East Indies writes to columnist Ann Nisei about reading her July column, reflecting on wartime life and the Nisei military record. He ends by encouraging her to keep writing about lighter topics.
• State Farm Bureau Condemns Policy of Returning Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The California Farm Bureau Federation condemned the return of persons of Japanese ancestry to the West Coast at its annual convention. The resolution demanded that no Japanese Americans, citizen or alien, be permitted to return.
• Roger Baldwin Predicts Coast Exclusion Order to Be Revoked, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Roger N. Baldwin of the ACLU predicted the West Coast exclusion order would be revoked or declared unconstitutional. He argued the evacuation was not justified by military necessity.

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