Proximity to a Caucasian
"Give the names and addresses of references not to exceed five in number. These need not be Caucasian, but good Caucasian references may be particularly helpful." Page 4 of Bob Ono's Application to leave Jerome Camp to work for Military Intelligence Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a Japanese Language teacher.
To see first leave application.
To see second leave application.
To be able to apply for leave from camp was a complicated process involving many background checks and at least some closeness to a Caucasian and ideally a history of being active in mainstream American institutions and fluent in American culture and attitudes. An inmate/ internee needed some good references. The first application for leave clearance instructed: “Give the names and addresses of references not to exceed five in number. These need not be Caucasians, but good Caucasian references maybe particularly helpful.” Friends sent in letters to the government vouching for their friends' characters and loyalty to the U.S. by emphasizing their friendships with whites.
The federal government kept files on each internee and added letters that they received from friends of internees. When applying for leave clearance, internees named five references. Letter writers often described their Japanese American friends as close or similar to white people, likely prompted by specific questions from the WRA. Was a determination of loyalty linked to a perceived proximity to whiteness?
Margaret Rohrer wrote to Dillon S. Myer, the director of the War Relocation Authority about her friend Bob Ono:
"He has Caucasian friends among the business and professional classes. His standing in his how community of Fresno, California was very high. He was trusted and respected by those who knew him and regarded as an extremely intelligent and exceptional individual by his Caucasian friends. Without reservation I can say that Mr. Ono is equipped with those personal qualification needed to make a successful adjustment to participation in normal American living."
The federal government kept files on each internee and added letters that they received from friends of internees. When applying for leave clearance, internees named five references. Letter writers often described their Japanese American friends as close or similar to white people, likely prompted by specific questions from the WRA. Was a determination of loyalty linked to a perceived proximity to whiteness?
Margaret Rohrer wrote to Dillon S. Myer, the director of the War Relocation Authority about her friend Bob Ono:
"He has Caucasian friends among the business and professional classes. His standing in his how community of Fresno, California was very high. He was trusted and respected by those who knew him and regarded as an extremely intelligent and exceptional individual by his Caucasian friends. Without reservation I can say that Mr. Ono is equipped with those personal qualification needed to make a successful adjustment to participation in normal American living."
Letter from Margaret Rohrer to War Relocation Authority about Bob Ono.
Letter from Martin Schreiber to War Relocation Authority about Bob Ono.
Letter from Reference to War Relocation Authority about Chiz (Yamashita)Kitow, dated Feb 26, 1943.
Letter from Leila Anderson to War Relocation Authority about Iyo (Yamashita) Tamaki, dated April 3, 1943.
Letter from Sylvia Sorensen to War Relocation Authority about Kay Yamashita, dated January 25, 1943.
Letter from Robert Inglis to War Relocation Authority about Kay Yamashita, dated February 2, 1943.
Letter from Frank Herron Smith to War Relocation Authority about Bob Ono.
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