Introduction This section presents responses by the Federal Government to letters of protest against allowing Japanese Americans to serve in the U.S. Army.
February 7, 1943
Dear Miss Martinez:
Your telegram of January 30, addressed to President Roosevelt has been referred to me for reply.
I regret that you are opposed to the War Department's decision to organize loyal Japanese American citizens into a combat team for service in the Army. For your information, the War Department's action has the approval of the President. Photostat copy of the letter addressed to the Secretary of War, giving this approval, is enclosed herewith. As to the loyalty of American-born Japanese, the War Department has sufficient evidence of the loyalty of these people to justify their inclusion in the armed services. It might be interesting for you to know that there are already over 4000 Japanese Americans in the United States Army and that some of these are with the combat units of the North African force.
Sincerely, (Signed) JOHN J. McCloy Assistant Secretary of War
Miss Juanita Martinez President, the Peoples Civic Club 324 1/2 South Hill Street Los Angeles, California
Enc. Photostat cy ltr FDR to S/W 2-1-43.
March 6, 1943
Dear Mr. Allen:
Your letter and petition of February 8th to the Secretary of War has been referred to me for reply. I regret the delay in answering you, but I am sure you can appreciate that we are doing our utmost to give careful consideration to all suggestions both pro and con the recent formation of a separate unit of loyal Japanese-American citizens in the Army.
I assure you that the decision by the War Department to accept loyal Japanese-American citizens in the Army, and the more recent policy of forming a separate unit of them, was reached only after very careful thought. No loyal Japanese-American citizen will be accepted into the armed forces until his loyalty has been thoroughly investigated.
It is always to be expected that our country is composed of peoples of many different backgrounds, and it is unjust to say that all American citizens of Japanese ancestry are less loyal than other American citizens. We recognize that the attack on Pearl Harbor created in the minds of many people a fear of Japanese treachery, but this should not be held against our loyal Japanese-American citizens who are anxious to do their part in fighting this war.
Sincerely (Signed) Gordon Grand, JR. First Lieutenant, QMC Assistant Executive
Mr. William F. Allen, Secretary Los Angeles Parlor No. 48 Native Sons of the Golden West 1832 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California
March 16, 1943
Dear Mrs. Baines:
The Secretary of War has asked that I acknowledge your letter of February 11, together with the resolution of the San Diego Parlor No. 208, Native Daughters of the Golden West, opposing the organization of a Japanese American combat team. The Secretary asks that you be thanked for your communication.
The War Department does not concur in your views in the treatment of Japanese American citizens of the United States. For your information the Army already has over 4,000 Japanese American citizens in its ranks, and some of them are to be found in both the North African and South Pacific theaters fighting with our forces. The reports received indicate their conduct is of the highest type, and War Department cannot concur in your view that these citizens should not be given the opportunity all other loyal citizens enjoy.
Sincerely, (Signed) WILLIAM P. SCOBEY Colonel, General Staff Executive
Mrs. Lena I. Baines, President Native Daughters of the Golden West 1253 University Avenue San Diego, California
March 6, 1943
Dear Mrs. Baird:
Your letter of February 1 with the attached clippings, to the Secretary of War has been referred to me for reply.
Out of the 130,000 Japanese who were situated in the West Coast area it is undoubtedly [s]ure that there were some who were not loyal to our country. It is most unfair, however, to cite these few as the general rule, and I assure you that the present War Department policy to accept loyal Japanese American citizens into the Army was reached only after very careful thought.
Sincerely, (Signed) GORDON GRAND 1st Lieut., QMC Assistant Executive
Mrs. Stella Baird 1111 U Street Sacramento, California
March 13, 1943
Dear Mr. Brazelton:
Your letter and petition of February 19, to the Secretary of War has been referred to me for reply.
The fact that we are at war with Japan should not blind us to the realization that there are a great number of very loyal Japanese-American citizens in our country. It would be unfair, indeed, to deny these people an opportunity to fight for their country, and I cannot but believe that to do otherwise would be nothing short of racial discrimination, which has no place in our country.
Sincerely yours, (Signed) GORDON GRAND, JR. First Lieutenant QMC Assistant Executive
Mr. R. W. Brazelton, Secretary Arrowhead Parlor No. 110 Native Sons of the Golden West San Bernardino, California
May 5, 1943
Dear Miss Burks:
Your letter of April 29 and the attached action of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, relating to the War Department's action on the release of the Japanese from relocation centers, has been transmitted to this office for acknowledgement and reply. The Board is thanked for its interest in the matter and for furnishing the Secretary with a copy of its resolution.
It seems appropriate in replying thereto to inform the Board that the facts stated in its resolution have not been correctly determined. The War Department does not contemplate incorporating 28,000 native born Japanese into the armed service. It does have a current plan for organizing a combat team of American citizens of Japanese extraction which, when complete, will give to the Army approximately 9,000 Japanese.
The War Department was the agency responsible for the evacuation of the Japanese from the West Coast. Undoubtedly, you are aware that it was not intended that this mass evacuation imply disloyalty on the part of all Japanese. The occasion for the evacuation was the lack of information as to the individual disposition of the Japanese on the West Coast and the exigencies of the military situation then existing. Assuming that many of these Japanese are loyal, of which the War Department is convinced, it does not appear either right or in accordance with the American conception of democracy to retain these loyal Japanese in restricted custody, and it is not believed that your council would so subscribe. Certainly, the War Department does not concur in any action which would jeopardize the security of the West Coast, any other coast of the United States, or the safety of its military expeditions. It might be interesting for you to know that among the Japanese American soldiers now in the Army, many are in theaters of operation, and only recently three of these Japanese Americans were decorated by their theater commander for meritorious service.
It is hoped that this will give you some concept of the existing situation and the policy of the War Department on the matter.
Sincerely, (Signed) WILLIAM P. SCOBEY Colonel, General Staff Executive
Miss Alice Burks, Chief Clerk Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Los Angeles, California