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Japanese American WWII Loyalty and Struggle

The document discusses the experiences of Japanese Americans, particularly focusing on Yuri and Bill Kochiyama, who fought for justice after being labeled as 'enemy aliens' during World War II. It highlights the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's significant contributions and sacrifices, despite facing discrimination and being incarcerated. The narrative emphasizes the complex relationship between loyalty, race, and military service during this period in American history.

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6 views2 pages

Japanese American WWII Loyalty and Struggle

The document discusses the experiences of Japanese Americans, particularly focusing on Yuri and Bill Kochiyama, who fought for justice after being labeled as 'enemy aliens' during World War II. It highlights the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's significant contributions and sacrifices, despite facing discrimination and being incarcerated. The narrative emphasizes the complex relationship between loyalty, race, and military service during this period in American history.

Uploaded by

kaylenngo
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Yuri and Bill Kochiyama

– clip from renee taijima pena’s film, “my america… or, honk if you love buddha
-​ Lived in towns to work
-​ Finding uncle sam a “loyal master”
-​ “Prisoners of war”
-​ Always the point of an attack
-​ Bill and yuri traveled a long way after the war
-​ Fought for justice for americans
-​ Raised 6 kids
-​ Combat unit of the US army

Japanese american color guard, 442nd france, november 12, 1944


-​ Folks that have been deemed enemy alien
-​ All japanese american men were classified as foresee (enemy alien) aka forbidden to
serve in the military
-​ 1943 washington dc reverses this policy, japan had effectively produced propaganda
that focused on japanese americans in the united states and was successful in
portraying what happened in the camps that were racist
-​ Depiction of war as a racist conflict
-​ Changing their mind for men of draft age was a tactical move on the part of
US government to show they aren’t racist
-​ Hawaii: highest concentration of asians, japanese americans, japanese asians
because of labor recruitment
-​ Japanese in Hawaii were not taken into these concentration camps like the
west coast of US was
-​ They were really important labor for the industries there
Daniel inouye, US senator 1924 - 2012
-​ “I was angered to realize that my government felt that I was disloyal and part of the
enemy, an enemy alien. And I wanted to be able to demonstrate, not only to my
government, but to neighbors that I was a good American

442nd regimental combat team, oct 14, 1944, chambois sector, france
-​ Now seen as a problem solver
-​ Was called to rescue the lost vatellian
-​ Ended up losing 800 men
-​ For such a small size, and length of service they were actually the most decorated
unit because they forced into these difficult situations
-​ Soldiers from the 442nd regimental combat team run for cover as a german artillery
shell is about to land outside the building of APR 4, 1945, italy
-​ They would serve in the government that incarcerated them
-​ If they weren’t put into camps by the US, the Japanese would have given loyalty to
them
-​ “Why should we”
-​ Protested the injustice of their treatment
-​ 47% refused to say yes to question 27 and 28

Resistance at tule lake

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