''The enemy''
"I Am An American" (photo credit), 1942, Library of Congress
Their racial characteristics are such that we cannot understand or trust even the citizens Japanese.
-Henry L. Stimson, former Secretary of War
Are you a Jap...I would say ‘no, no, I’m not a Jap, I’m Japanese.’ Then they would chase me or throw things at me and say to me, ‘Go back where you belong'. |
"The Japanese race is an enemy race, and while many second and third generation Japanese born on United States soil, possessed of United States citizenship, have become "Americanized", the racial strains are undiluted....It, therefore, follows that along the vital Pacific Coast over 112,000 potential enemies, of Japanese extraction, are at large today." |
"[Pearl Harbor] left the West Coast exposed to destructive enemy attack...it is imperative that those charged with the defense of our shores take adequate protective measures against a possible invasion."
-General Charles Fahy
"We were not allowed to enlist and our draft classification was changed from eligible to fight for America to 4-C. 4-C meant that we were alien, enemy alien, unfit for military duty. It was a huge blow because as Americans, we felt we had the responsibility to fight for our country. To be declared as alien, enemy, unfit to fight for this country, was a huge blow. That was like the government telling us, we don’t want you, you are disowned."
-Terry Shima, former 442nd, in a personal interview
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"Be like the Cactus." |
"Right here in our own city, are those who may spring to action at an appointed time in accordance with a prearranged plan wherein each of our Japanese friends will know his part in the event of any possible attempted invasion or air raid." "We were all branded as , ‘You guys are saboteurs. You are working for Japan.’ and it was a very difficult period for all ethnic Japanese in America." |