Americans in History

Treasury seizes Japanese business and banking

Dec 8, 1941

American citizens grasp what has happened, and feel threatened by Japanese citizens. Afraid of Japanese citizens dispursing information to Japan, treasury seizes all Japan businesses and puts a hold on their banking accounts.

Rosevelt signs order 9066

Feb 19, 1942

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roosevelt-signs-executive-order-9066
A notice had been posted in every community, and word was spreading that all Japanese ancestry was to be evacuated and board to a camp. Daddy was forced to sell his land for little money, and mom bagan packing out stuff. Each family was assigned a number and told tto bring only necessities. Mom said this was going to be a small vacation for us, and we only expected the best.

President Roosevelt signs public law 503

Mar 21, 1942

http://www.internmentarchives.com/showdoc.php?docid=00104&search_id=9609 During this time, all of our family had been looked upon as the enemys, a threat. Being a japanese living in America was the worst thing in an event as this, and it was becoming dangerous. Our family was sent to a camp site with other Japanes families, and took away our aunt Xionh since she refused, and we havent seen her since.

Japanese moved from Los Angeles to Manzanar

Jun 1, 1942

http://www.nps.gov/manz/historyculture/japanese-americans-at-manzanar.htm
Mom had told me and my sisters that we had to leave our house here in Los Angele, even tho we were too sure where we were being taken yet. We arrived to a place called Manzanar, there were houses built and tall barbed wire surrounding everything. By September the community of 200 people per block was filthy. We had no privacy, and everyone in our area had to share the same few toilets, and it was even harder to take baths.

Pearl Harbor Attack.

Dec 7, 1942

Its was a bright and sunny with a few soldiers on duty during this time. Our new electronic radar systems had been set up, and picked up signals comming from what we thought were American planes from the mainland. A japanese submarine had been spoted later, it was eliminated and ignored. No one had been suspecting a threat, especially in this location before war had been declared. Dazed and confused by what was happening, it was hard to believe that Pearl Harbor was under attack.

All Japanese American volunteer combat formed

Jan 23, 1943

http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/avq/avq-issu
My brother Xion had wanted to join the Japanese volunteer combat that was formed. They were sent off to the battle field, and many volunteers from the mainland joined them. He told us how when he was there, they gave him very little explanation on how to fight and how to properly use these ammunitions given to them. Many died because of the comditions they were put it, and from everything he seen, I know he will never be the same person again.

Recruiting Japanese 17 and older from camps

May 3, 1943

http://www.densho.org/learning/spice/lesson5/5reading5.asp
My father and brother Kiono had been taken from some soldiers in the camp for finger prints. I wasnt quite sure why, but mom said it was just to keep track of who is here, but they didnt take mine. Father and Kiono didnt return that night, and in the morning everyone had heard news that all men above 17 were being taken to serve in war. People were crying, not mom tho. She stayed strong for us, and she did not want to break down just yet

Citizens may be imprisoned for their ancestry

Dec 18, 1944

http://open.salon.com/blog/libbyliberalnyc/2011/12/02/cong_authorizing_govt_to_abductimprison_citizens_on_us_soil
My uncle Zang had moved into a new house with us, when one day we received news that he was being taken away for 2 years to be imprisoned. They didnt give us information why, only that he was to be sent to prison withought a trial, and the Supreme Court allowed this to happen with ruling imprisonment solemnly on their ancestry. There had been no justice shown here at all.

Ending to most internment camps

Jul 13, 1945

http://www.history.com/speeches/conditions-at-japanese-internment-camps#conditions-at-japanese-internment-camps
Today was such a joyous day for everyone in the camps. The WRA had announced that all internment camps, except for Tule Lake, were to be shut down on December 15th of this year. Hope on leaving this place was still here, and we would grasp onto any bit that was handed to us.

All internment camps are closed

Dec 15, 1945

http:
Mom had all of our stuff packed, and we were set to be free from these barbed fences. We had a family friend who we know would be willing to let us stay with them we returned, so that was not an issue for us like it was to most being released. It took them this long to realize that it was a mistake of theirs, and japanese actually showed much loyalty. Every family was granted $2,500 with their release, but does not cover for the thousands of dollars many lost on their homes and business's.

Revoking Japanese segregation

Jun 6, 1946

http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Ochikubo%20v.%20Bonesteel/
Durign this time, the inprisonment on Japanese for their race had only increased dramatically. Uncles and cousins of mine had been sent for the mere fact of their ethnicity. An end had finally come to this, and the there could be no further actions of inprisonment withought a trial