The 442nd in Italy and the death of President Roosevelt

Vol. 20, No. 15, April 14, 1945. 8 pages. View this issue

The 442nd Infantry Regiment led the news. It rejoined the Fifth Army in Italy and bore the main burden of the new offensive along the Ligurian coast. Reports described the capture of Massa, Mount Belvedere and Carrara, and Milton Bracker wrote of troops using grenades and bazookas against Germans in rocky positions. An editorial mourned the sudden death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and JACL President Saburo Kido sent a telegram to President Harry S. Truman. Larry Tajiri’s column examined the new anti-evacuee groups.

Elsewhere, Secretary Stimson called a shooting at a Nisei soldier’s home in Madera an outrage, and the Hood River American Legion post restored 15 Japanese American names to its honor roll. Bill Hosokawa profiled a family in Cincinnati, and James Milton Meade’s short story “Home in the West” was reprinted. Page 8 carried awards and furlough news, including Capt. Young Oak Kim’s return to Los Angeles.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• 442nd Infantry Spearheads New Italy Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 442nd Infantry Regiment, composed of Japanese American troops, rejoined the Fifth Army in Italy after seven months in France and bore the main burden of the new offensive along the Ligurian coast. Correspondents reported that many in the regiment had hoped for Pacific service rather than a return to Europe.
• Nisei Troops Use Grenades, Bazookas to Blast Germans From Rocky Hideouts in Italy, by Milton Bracker, page 1. Japanese American troops of the 442nd, including the 100th Battalion, used grenades and bazookas to dislodge Germans from rocky positions near Massa, Italy. The regiment’s new commanders and the unit’s return to the front were also reported.
• Japanese Americans Capture Carrara, Mount Belvedere in Fifth Army’s Spring Offensive, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nisei troops of the 442nd captured Massa, Mount Belvedere, and the marble center of Carrara during the Fifth Army’s spring offensive. The advance pushed toward the German naval base at La Spezia against strong resistance.
• One Japanese American Hurt, One Missing, Reports OWI, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Office of War Information identified Pfc. Yoshio H. Terada as wounded in action and Pfc. Tetsuo Kashiwamura as missing in action in the European area. Their next of kin are listed.
• FC. Furukawa Hurt in Recent Europe Action, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Furukawa, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. G. Mizuki of Hunt, Idaho, was wounded in France on March 8, according to a War Department announcement. He was inducted in March 1944 and is survived by his wife and infant daughter.
• Secretary Stimson Describes Attack on Nisei GI as ‘Outrage’, by P.C. Staff, page 2. War Secretary Henry Stimson condemned a shooting at the Madera, California home of Minoru Ohashi, a discharged Nisei soldier, calling it an inexcusable and dastardly outrage. The attack was directed at the home where Cpl. Kawamoto was visiting.
• Japanese American GIs, Back From War, Prefer California, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two wounded members of the 442nd, Pfc. Jim Tokushige and Pfc. George Yoshioka, recovering at Barnes General Hospital describe their combat service in the Lost Battalion rescue. Both express hope to return home to the West Coast.
• A.P.’s Joe Rosenthal Says: Marine Generals Recognize Work of Nisei GIs in Pacific, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Photographer Joe Rosenthal told Charles Gotthard that Japanese American soldiers serving with Pacific assault forces proved their loyalty through heroism praised by Marine commanders. He described their interpreting work and condemned anti-Nisei actions at home.
• Japanese American Soldiers Take Part in Okinawa Invasion, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dispatches from Okinawa report that Japanese American soldiers served as interpreters helping convince civilians to leave caves and cooperate with U.S. forces. Staff Sgt. James K. Dubois and others are credited with the rescues.
• Nisei Interpreter at PW Camp, by J. L. Smith, page 4. A Des Moines Register writer reported that Japanese prisoners at Camp Clarinda, Iowa are treated humanely, and profiled Cpl. Yukio Kajiyama, a Nisei interpreter. The article describes the camp’s administration.
• Nisei in Uniform: Best Wishes By the Crusaders, by Thomas Mayo Howells, page 6. Former 442nd member Thomas Mayo Howells sends Easter greetings to his Japanese American friends from Rohwer. He reflects on faith and hope for a better future.
• Back on Furlough, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A squad-mate describes Hughes Tatara’s return to the states on rotation furlough after being wounded four times in combat. The letter explains the qualifications for rotation and the men’s mutual respect.
• Bakersfield Nisei Cited for Heroism, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Sergeant Mikiri Ogata of Bakersfield, a wire chief in the 442nd, was cited for heroism in the Vosges Mountains. He laid communications wire under fire and killed an enemy rifleman who threatened his comrades.
• Japanese American Officer Ogata Commended, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Pocatello and Bakersfield items recognize Nisei servicemen for courage and service. The notes praise their combat records and home-front recognition.
• Captain Kinoshita Wins Award for Battle Action, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Captain Robert S. Kinoshita, a Japanese American doctor from Oregon, received a Silver Star for treating wounded soldiers under fire in Leves, France. He had volunteered from the Heart Mountain relocation center.
• Captain Kuromoto, Veteran of 100th, Weds in Minnesota, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Captain Kiyoshi Kuramoto, a veteran of the 100th Infantry Battalion, married Suzu Koriyama at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The wedding was held in the post chapel.
• Officer Says Nisei Combat Team Has Highest IQ in U.S. Army, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Captain Farr, administrative officer of the 442nd Headquarters Company, reported that the Japanese American Combat Team has the highest average IQ in the U.S. Army. He described the unit’s intelligence and communications work.
• Korean American Hero of 100th Unit Returns on Furlough, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Capt. Young Oak Kim of the 100th Infantry Battalion returned to Los Angeles on furlough after 19 months on the front lines. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart with cluster.
• Nisei Swimmer Wins National Swimming Title, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Kiyoshi Nakama of Hawaii won the 440-yard indoor freestyle championship at the 1945 National AAU meet in New York. The article also notes teammate Halo Hirose, a veteran of the Italian campaign.
• Okinawa Nisei Girl Assists Yank Troops, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Doris Oshikawa, a 21-year-old Japanese American from Maui who had lived on Okinawa, was pressed into service helping U.S. Army forces convince villagers to leave their caves. She had sheltered in a cave during the American assault.

In-Depth

• Death of an American, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The editorial mourns the sudden death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, praising his leadership, his championship of the common man, and his commitment to human rights. It notes that Americans of Japanese ancestry joined the nation in grief, with moments of silent prayer even in the relocation camps.

National

• Indian Evacuees Offered Employment, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Offers of employment for Japanese Canadian evacuees from British Columbia exceeded the number that could be placed in eastern provinces. The report describes the placement program for evacuees.
• California Legislator Says 50 Thousand Evacuees May Return, by P.C. Staff, page 2. State Senator George Hatfield predicted that the closing of the war relocation centers will bring about 50,000 evacuees back to the West Coast. A resolution debate over federal compensation for California counties was also reported.
• Pacific GIs Condemn Boycott Against Nisei, Says Educator, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Knowles Reyerson reported that American troops in the South Pacific oppose the boycott campaign against the return of Japanese Americans. He described Nisei interpreters’ hazardous work and urged tolerance.
• WRA Official Raps Policy of Fresno Board, by P.C. Staff, page 2. WRA official Fischer criticized the Fresno County Agricultural Adjustment Administration for demanding proof of renunciation of dual citizenship before granting benefit payments to Japanese American citizens. He also faulted the county board for refusing rehabilitation funds.
• Agricultural Board Chairman Defends Policy on Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Fresno County Agricultural Adjustment chairman Frank Long defended a policy requiring affidavits of renounced dual citizenship from returning Japanese American farmers before benefit payments. Long said the policy was realistic and applied only when applications arrived.
• WRA Reports 167 Evacuees Back in Oregon Area, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Of 4,000 Japanese Americans who left coastal Oregon under evacuation orders, only 167 have returned since exclusion restrictions were rescinded, according to WRA supervisor C. W. Linville. About 200 have returned to Washington’s coastal area.
• Mercer County, Pa. Group Welcomes Evacuee Resettlement, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. Mather, WRA supervisor for western Pennsylvania, visited Sharon with two evacuees seeking farm homes in the East. The Sharon Herald editorial welcomed them as industrious, law-abiding residents.
• 1,438 Evacuees Back on Coast, Myer Reports, by P.C. Staff, page 8. WRA Director Dillon S. Myer reported only 1,488 evacuees have returned to former home areas while 40,000 have relocated elsewhere. He announced four new WRA offices in Southern California.

JACL

• Telegram Sent to New President, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL National President Saburo Kido sent a telegram to President Harry S. Truman offering whole-hearted support of Americans of Japanese ancestry in the unfinished business of victory and peace. The message was sent April 12.
• Message of Sympathy Sent Mrs. Roosevelt By National JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 2. National JACL headquarters sent a message of condolence to Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House following news of the President’s sudden death. The message was sent after April 12.

Community

• Group Opposes Return of Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Monterey Bay Council on Japanese Relations filed incorporation papers with a program calling for all legal means to discourage the return of Japanese Americans to the Pacific coast. The group planned to recruit members at $1 each.
• Gardena Valley to Hear Debate on Nisei Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A public debate on the return of Japanese Americans to the West Coast was scheduled for April 25 at Gardena high school auditorium. Daniel G. Marshall and John R. Lechner were announced as the speakers.
• Hood River Post Restores Nisei Names to Honor Roll, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The American Legion post in Hood River, Oregon, restored the names of 15 Japanese American servicemen to its honor roll after a directive from national commander Edward Scheiberling. The erasure had sparked nationwide controversy.
• Ministers Hit Anti-Evacuee Groups’ Motives, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eight members of the East Side Ministerial Association in Seattle signed a resolution condemning the anti-Japanese American meeting in Bellevue that proposed ejecting American citizens of Japanese descent. The resolution called the action contrary to the Constitution.
• Racists Gird for Long Fight, by P.C. Staff, page 3. New organizations opposed to the return of Japanese Americans are preparing a long campaign against them on the Pacific Coast. The article describes their leadership and tactics, including dual-citizenship arguments.
• Remember Pearl Harbor League’s Activity Likened to Nazi Actions by War Veteran; U. of Washington Group Protests Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 3. More than 150 University of Washington students attended the Remember Pearl Harbor League’s organizational meeting in Seattle to protest discrimination against Japanese Americans. A veteran compared the league’s tactics to Nazi persecution groups.
• Evacuees Attend Red Cross Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A dance attended by more than 200 evacuees in Cleveland raised $90 for the Red Cross drive. The event was organized by a young Cleveland Nisei committee.
• Pocatello JACL Will Erect Bronze Plaque to Honor Servicemen, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Pocatello chapter of the JACL announced plans for a bronze honor roll plaque at the local Japanese Hall to honor its fifty members in the armed forces. The chapter also discussed a Christmas fund for members in the Army.
• Salt Lake Fellowship to Present Third Annual Xtravaganza, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Young People’s Fellowship announced its third annual Xtravaganza featuring an all-Nisei band under Osam Takahashi and performances by several groups. The event is scheduled for April 21 in Salt Lake City.
• State Group Sought to Fight Nisei Return, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Dr. George F. Beard announced a statewide anti-Japanese league to be formed at a Sacramento meeting of Northern California groups. Charles DeCosta urged members to avoid illegal action and violence.
• Seattle GI Tells of Respect for Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Corporal J. Lester Wasell of Seattle praised Japanese American soldiers in Italy, recalling how they rescued him after he was wounded. He said they could not be beaten as a fighting team.

Commentary

• Bataan Hero Meets Two Nisei Evacuees in San Francisco, by Kimmis Hendrick, page 2. A Bataan veteran just released from Japanese prison camp met two Nisei on a San Francisco street and shared a friendly exchange. The Christian Science Monitor reported the encounter as an example of interracial understanding.
• Nisei Veteran Tells of Friendship Lesson, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A soldier who had been a Bataan prisoner was moved by a friendly encounter with two Nisei, sharing their stories of treatment at camps and hopes for fair treatment. The episode is presented as a lesson in tolerance.
• Hood River Hysteria, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Salem Journal criticized the anti-Japanese movement in Hood River, Oregon, comparing it to Ku Klux Klan terrorism and noting that no constitutional method exists for depriving citizens of their property. The editorial calls such tactics intolerable.
• The 442nd Regiment, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises the combat record of the 442nd Regiment and the 100th Battalion, from Italy through France and back to the Italian front. It argues that Japanese American soldiers have secured their place in the American scene.
• Secretary Ickes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial notes Interior Secretary Ickes’ firm rebuke of Oregon’s OPOPL for seeking his support against Nisei return. Ickes declared the government obligated to help evacuees resettle wherever they choose.
• Racists Gird for Long Fight, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri analyzes new anti-evacuee organizations, including the Remember Pearl Harbor Leagues and the OPOPL, and their tactics of misinformation and intimidation. He also examines and rebuts the dual-citizenship argument.
• Nisei Family Finds Place in America, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa profiles Mrs. Jack Y. Kiba, a former Rohwer evacuee now living in Cincinnati, as an example of Nisei finding normal lives after relocation. He reflects on the difference between prewar ghetto life and ordinary American living.
• Home in the West, by James Milton Meade, page 5. A short story reprinted from The Amphibian depicts Hirosho Yugi returning to his California fruit ranch to face neighbors’ hostility, arson, and finally a telegram reporting his son’s death in Italy. The story critiques anti-Japanese prejudice.
• Letter from Pvt. Paul Makabe, by Mrs. Paul Makabe, page 5. Mrs. Paul Makabe shares a letter from her husband describing a village in France and its farms and customs. He comments on the damage of war and local agriculture.
• Lessons in Hawaii, by Paradise of the Pacific, page 6. An excerpt from the Honolulu magazine Paradise of the Pacific praises Hawaii’s tolerant treatment of its Japanese population during the war. The article credits the policy of judging people by actions rather than race.
• Some Notes on Applying Cosmetics, by Ann Nisei, page 6. Ann Nisei offers advice on applying rouge, lipstick, and powder to enhance one’s own features rather than imitate movie stars. She warns against overdoing rouge and recommends powder shades matching skin tone.

Arts & Entertainment

• Japanese American Artists Will Exhibit Works in New Jersey, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An exhibition of works by American artists of Japanese ancestry will open at the New Jersey College for Women, featuring Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Isamu Noguchi. Artists in relocation centers were invited to participate.
• Loyalty, Courage of Nisei GIs Noted by Robert Sherwood, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Robert E. Sherwood told the National Urban League that extermination of the Japanese race is physically impossible and would be condemned by public opinion. He cited the loyal courage of Nisei soldiers as evidence.

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