Go For Broke Brochure

              The history of the Japanese Americans in the Central Valley area goes
back to the late 1890's. Growth of fruit production in the area paralleled the
growth in the Japanese American population, which first consisted of young
men brought over as farm laborers. By the end of the 1890's, more than
3,000 seasonal grape pickers were in the area.
As these young migrant workers came into the area, businesses were
created to serve them. The Fresno Nihonmachi, or Japantown, was concentrated within four blocks on the west side of town. Many small businesses
were established in the late 1890's and the early 1900's. Their size and
number grew and they flourished up to the time of the evacuation. Churches,
both Buddhist and Christian, grew to serve the spiritual and social needs of
the Japanese American community.
Originally, the Japanese immigrants came with hopes of making a fortune and returning to their homeland to retire in comfort. However, when
their dreams did not come true, they persisted and worked hard so that they
could save money to purchase land, marry and become settled. Since there
was a scarcity of women during that time, marriages were arranged and
completed by proxy in Japan. These "picture brides" came to join their husbands in the new country. The period of greatest immigration for Issei, first
generation, men was 1900 to 1910. Most Issei women came during 1910 to
1920. Their children, the Nisei, were born during the period from early
1900's until as late as 1940.
Throughout United States history, the Japanese people were subjected to
harsh racial prejudice. They were not allowed by law to purchase land or
become citizens. Young people with college degrees were not hired for the
jobs for which they were trained and qualified.
THE EVACUATION AND INTERNMENT
When the Japanese Imperial Air Force bombed Pearl Harbor feelings ran
high and the result was the mass evacuation of all people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast states.
Shocked, indignant and saddened by the turn of events, Issei and Nisei
took the only stand they felt was in the interest of their country of adoption
and birth. They complied with decisions by United States government officials. Families were torn apart as the FBI arrested heads of households,
leaving bewildered mothers and children to cope with untended businesses
and to find means of survival.
With the signing of Executive Order 9066, they faced the task of disposing of businesses, homes and farms, plus the selling or storing of their furnishings, automobiles and other things they couldn't carry with them. On very
short notice of days or weeks, the evacuees were forced to leave their homes
to go to assembly centers first, before being shipped in darkened trains, to
prison-like relocation camps in desolate deserts and hinterlands of the interior
U.S. The local Japanese — other than the ones who relocated voluntarily —
were interned at the Fresno and Pinedale Centers before being sent to Relocation Centers located in Rohwer and Jerome, Arkansas.
The barrack type buildings which housed the 110,000 internees were hot
and dusty in the summer, and cold and drafty in the winter. They were forced
to use community toilets and shower stalls, which had no partitions for privacy. Food was served in mess halls eliminating family togetherness. The
internees coped with these discomforts with patience and the determination
to get along under the circumstances. Faced with an unknown and fearful
future, they clung to the American principles of justice and freedom that
seemed vaguely remote at the time.
THE WAR IN EUROPE - "GO FOR BROKE"
Out of these darkest of days came one of the most shining examples of
the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. At first, denied the right to
serve their country, the Nisei interned in the camps were later recruited for the
U.S. Army, based primarily on the performance of their fellow Japanese
Americans from Hawaii who had been formed into the 100th Infantry Battalion. The 100th would go on to earn the name "The Purple Heart Battalion"
because of their gallantry and sacrifices while attaining their military goals.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, fighting in Europe and Africa,
while their families were interned behind barbed wire at home, became the
most decorated unit of World War II and the most decorated unit for its size
and length of service in the history of the United States. They soon became
the outfit most feared by the enemy, most respected by their fellow troops,
and most requested by American military leaders who wanted the men they
knew could "get the job done." Their most famous feats included the rescue of
the hopeless "Texas Lost Battalion" where they took 800 casualties to save the
200 Texans. They also amazed military experts on both sides when they took
the "impregnable" Gothic Line after all the other allied forces had not succeeded. After many, many such military feats the 442nd and the 100th
received seven Presidential unit citations and over 18,000 individual decorations for valor.
While awarding their last unit citation President Harry S. Truman said
"...I can't tell you how much I appreciate the privilege of being able to show
you just how much the United States thinks of what you have done...you
fought not only the enemy but you fought prejudice — and you won."
THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC - THE MIS
The history of Japanese Americans who resolutely served the United
States in World War II to bring about the Allied victory over Japan is a
magnificent story.
6,000 Nisei (Japanese Americans) served in the U.S. Military Intelligence
Service (MIS) during World War II and fought covertly against the land of
their ancestry, contributing tremendously to the Allied victory. They were
literally, America's superb secret human weapon then, and what they did has
been one of the best-kept secrets of the war.
Their role was truly indispensable and unique, for they employed a
devastatingly effective weapon, their knowledge of the enemy's complex and
difficult language, which very few persons beside them on the Allied side
could understand or use. They were superbly resourceful, courageous and
loyal soldiers who served without fanfare in all campaigns and all fronts of the
far-flung war throughout the Pacific, in China, India and Burma, and even in
Europe where they secretly intercepted the enemy's diplomatic communications.
Yet, in spite of the contributions and sacrifices made by them, their role
in that war had to remain an untold military secret all these years until only
very recently. It is a remarkable story without parallel.