The Draft
Letter from Tom to folks. June 14, 1943.
Min Tamaki in Military Uniform
Tomi, Tom and Kay in front of Oakpark House owned by Kitows, circa 1944.
In March 1943, Kay wrote of the news of "About 500 applied for expatriation/repatriation, some in order to avoid a draft."1 At this point, the U.S. government was not yet drafting Japanese Americans detained in camp. Before Pearl Harbor, around 5,000 Japanese Americans were in the army, having volunteered or been drafted after the instatement of the draft in 1940. After Pearl Harbor, those men were relegated to menial tasks as their loyalty was questioned. By March of 1943, the WRA sought volunteers from the WRA detention camps to serve in a racially segregated combat unit in the war. With the implementation of the Loyalty Questionnaire, the U.S. government appeared to further test the feasibility for a draft of Japanese American men. In Topaz, this was resisted by committees that formed to demand the recognition of the rights of American-born Nisei. By December 1943, military officials re-instated the draft for Japanese American who were now detained in camps. Japanese Americans who resisted this draft (notably the Fair Play Committee at Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp)were long seen as outcasts in the JA community, but have since gained recognition for their efforts. [Read more] To see a timeline of events as Heart Mountain including resistance both to incarceration and the draft.
While some resisted the draft citing the unconstitutional nature of their own incarceration, some had already brought civil cases against their incarceration. Those at Topaz included Mitsue Endo and Fred Korematsu.
Ted Ono, who had left camp for college, wrote to his grandma, Tomi, and Kay, Min and Iyo in Philadelphia on June 14, 1943 about the draft,
Ted was eventually drafted by February of 19442, and entered basic training with Tom by January of 1945.3
Min, Iyo's new husband, was tagged sometime before June 1943,4 but was called for his physical on May 3rd 1944.5. On August 13, 1981,He wrote in his testimony for the Redress Hearings in San Francisco for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, Min wrote,
Min got to see his mother before he was shipped off to training6 and was to leave for the Army on Nov 28, 1944.7 While stationed at a Texas medical training army program, Min wrote faithfully to Iyo everyday.8
By Feb 1943, Tom got a job as a civil engineer in Chicago and Tomi got leave clearance to live with him there, but eventually decided to go live with Kay. Tom was considering enlisting in the fall of 1943 to Kay's dismay. Tom got his notice to report for his physical on July 15th 1944. According to a note in Sus' Topaz file, Tom went to Philadelphia to visit Kay and Tomi. He reported to/checked-in at the local WRA office and was told to return to Chicago to be drafted. Nisei inductees are placed in Shelby, Fort Blanding (Florida) and Camp Savage. 9
Endnotes
1Letter from Kay to John, March 6, 1943.
2Letter from Kay to Kimi dated Feb 14 1944.
3Letter from Kay to family, Jan 11 1945.
4Ibid.
5Letter from Kay to family, Jan 11 1945.
6Letter from Kay to Folks dated Oct 10, 1944.
7Letter from Kay to Folks dated Nov 24, 1944.
8Letter from Kay to Family (Tomi, Ed, Chiz and John in Chicago), Jan 11 1945. (See above link)
9Letter from Kay to Ted dated July 5, 1944.
While some resisted the draft citing the unconstitutional nature of their own incarceration, some had already brought civil cases against their incarceration. Those at Topaz included Mitsue Endo and Fred Korematsu.
Ted Ono, who had left camp for college, wrote to his grandma, Tomi, and Kay, Min and Iyo in Philadelphia on June 14, 1943 about the draft,
No news from the draft board yet. This waiting around anxious about each day’s mailing is almost torturous. Have been wondering about your draft status, Min, since we heard you’ve been tagged. Enclosed is a shot that they took for our school annual. Might be the last of me in 'civvies' so am sending it… P.S. Miss Kay Yamashita hasn’t written me for ages! Could it not be that a “male” occupies all her spare time?
Ted was eventually drafted by February of 19442, and entered basic training with Tom by January of 1945.3
Min, Iyo's new husband, was tagged sometime before June 1943,4 but was called for his physical on May 3rd 1944.5. On August 13, 1981,He wrote in his testimony for the Redress Hearings in San Francisco for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, Min wrote,
After being released from Topaz, I travelled first to Chicago then PHiladelphia looking for work. Although my skills as a pharmacist were needed during wartime, no one would hire me. I found that our incarceration in the camps legitimized and reinforced the fears that we were somehow dangerous. I finally landed a job in a laboratory in Philadelphia but my job was limited to taking care of the laboratory animals. Thereafter, I joined that army.
Min got to see his mother before he was shipped off to training6 and was to leave for the Army on Nov 28, 1944.7 While stationed at a Texas medical training army program, Min wrote faithfully to Iyo everyday.8
By Feb 1943, Tom got a job as a civil engineer in Chicago and Tomi got leave clearance to live with him there, but eventually decided to go live with Kay. Tom was considering enlisting in the fall of 1943 to Kay's dismay. Tom got his notice to report for his physical on July 15th 1944. According to a note in Sus' Topaz file, Tom went to Philadelphia to visit Kay and Tomi. He reported to/checked-in at the local WRA office and was told to return to Chicago to be drafted. Nisei inductees are placed in Shelby, Fort Blanding (Florida) and Camp Savage. 9
Endnotes
1Letter from Kay to John, March 6, 1943.
2Letter from Kay to Kimi dated Feb 14 1944.
3Letter from Kay to family, Jan 11 1945.
4Ibid.
5Letter from Kay to family, Jan 11 1945.
6Letter from Kay to Folks dated Oct 10, 1944.
7Letter from Kay to Folks dated Nov 24, 1944.
8Letter from Kay to Family (Tomi, Ed, Chiz and John in Chicago), Jan 11 1945. (See above link)
9Letter from Kay to Ted dated July 5, 1944.