When the United States Armed Forces sent recruiters to the war camps, they were recieved with varying responses. The men of draft age had to choose whether or not to assist a country who had betrayed them. The men of the camps were split into two groups: the “no-no” men and those who chose to volunteer.
If Yoshiko Uchida had been eligible for the draft and was required to answer questions twenty-seven and twenty-eight, I believe she would have been torn. She would have wanted to stand up for her own rights and liberties, refusing to fight for a country who had denied her all freedoms. However, I believe that the opportunity to leave Topaz would also prove desirable. She also felt loyal the United States no matter how contemptuous it felt towards her. Yoshiko, like many Nisei, had no other country.
Question twenty-eight, “Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese Emperor, or any other foreign government power or organzation?”, was a racist question that would have offended Yoshiko and many other Japanese Americans. They had lived in the United States for the majority of their lives, many having never left American soil. The question implies that all Japanese Americans supported the Japanese Emperor and his actions against the United States, that they were all traitors to their country. One can infer from the question that the Armed Forces did not view the Japanese Americans as true Americans, another insult to many of the Japanese Americans who had always viewed themselves as such.
Question twenty-seven, “Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?”, was considered a very loaded question as well. Refusing to answer yes implied that you were a traitor, however answering yes would lead to even more racist behavior. The Armed Forces spoke of forming an all Japanese American combat team, stating that this would allow the entire country to view their loyalty, making them more visible than if they were dispersed among other battalions. The Japanese Americans worried, however, that doing so would only lead to more racist behavior. Their was the possibility that they were more likely to be sent into combat first, that their gear may not be in the best condition, and the Issei feared going into combat against their home country, Japan.
I believe the Nisei men should have refused to serve. It is the duty of American citizens to serve their country, however at the time they were not counted among the citizens. They were denied all basic rights guaranteed to all American citizens. If rights are revoked without reason, then the need to do ones patriotic duty is also revoked.
It could be argued that they the Japanese Americans would soon have their freedom and rights back due to President Roosevelt’s statement. However, President Roosevelt made no mention of the restoration of civil liberties. He spoke only of “the democratic right to exercise the responsibilites of his citizenship.” The Japanese Americans were only allowed the right to serve in the war, not only being waged overseas, but in the United States against the country’s own citizens. I believe many Japanese Americans would have found it upsetting and foolish of the United States government to expect the people it had demonized to serve in the war that was being fought partially against them. They were not to be rewarded any other rights nor liberties. They were only allowed to sacrifice themselves to a country who did not consider the Japanese Americans as part of their citizenship.

2474 / 5000 words. 49% done!

Labels: Americans, Desert, Exile, history, Japanese, paper, war, WWII