Fresno JACL News

              TO: Nisei VFW and other organizations
FROM: Y.R.Hiraoka
Enclosed excerpts of Frank Chins evaluation of the
accomplishments of the 442nd RCT. Chin believes
that the true heroes were the Heart Mountain
Resisters, not those who fought and died in
Europe and the Pacific. If he is permitted to
harangue away in this fashion, it might cause a great
many to believe him in that there are no opposing
groups or contrary views expressed. As a 442
veteran, I know he is wrong, mainly, because he
knows nothing of the pattern of prejudice and bias
of the politicians, media, trade unions and powerful
organizations directed against the Japanese. It is
incumbent on all veterans to voice their resentment
against the likes of Chin, who use present day
approaches and arguments involving Civil Liberties,
which did not surface until 1964, and constitutional
rights, which were denied us during World War II.
Chin has no factual matter to support his stand.
Dear Editor:
I volunteered for and served with the 442nd
Regimental Combat Team in Italy and France. After
listening to an interview of Fred Hirasuna of Fresno
by Frank Chin, Frank Abe and Paul Tsuneishi, it
appears to me that the position taken by them to
the effect that neither the 442 nor JACL "did
nothing for the Japanese American cause during
and after World War It", is without foundation or
facts. It is only their opinions or beliefs on which
they rely. It is my suggestion that they do more
research, which will negate their unfounded
conclusions. If the 442 failed, why did then
Governor of Texas, John Connolly, on 21 October
1963, commission, members of 442 RCT, under
the laws of Texas, Honorary Texas Citizens? Why
did Terry E Branstad, then Governor of Iowa,
recognize the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
and accord it with the status of Honorary Citizens of
Iowa? Why did President Harry S Truman say: "You
fought not only the enemy. You fought prejudice
and you won", while pinning the seventh
presidential unit badge on the regimental colors
after the unit marched down Constitution Avenue?
The 442 was the smallest unit to be reviewed and
honored by the president of the United States.
Why did Maj. Gen'l Jacob L Devers say, "These
men more than earned the right to be called just
Americans,  not Japanese Americans. Their
Americanism may be described only by degree,
and that the highest." What made Gen Dwight D
Eisenhower, Chief of Staff, say, "The 442nd drove
forward despite heavy casualties allowing the
enemy no time for rest or reorganization., liberated
the City of Carrara, seized the heights beyond...
and opened the way for advance on the key road
center and ports of La Spezia and Genoa. The
successful accomplishment of the mission turned a
diversionary action into a full scale and victorious
offensive. . . an important part in the final
destruction of the German armies in Italy.." This,
after Eisenhower's staff initially declined to use the
100th Battalion. What made Gen George C
Marshall say, "Clark (Lt. Gen'l Mark Clark,
Commanding Gen'l of the 5th Army) took
them, .they were superb! They took terrific
causalities, they showed rare courage and
tremendous fighting spirit... everybody wanted
them...".  What made Gen Mark Clark say, "Their
records in battle have been marked by one
outstanding achievement after another. They have
written a brilliant chapter in the history of American
fighting men." What made the George Company
soldier of the 141st infantry Regiment of the 36th
Division remark, "Man, they could fight": The
answer must be that the loyalty of the nisei was
never again to be questioned for they had earned
the respect of these individuals and the nation.
Failure of the 442 would not have induced such
encomiums.
Chin said, "I think that the 442 did fail. If the 442
succeeded, you would have won redress by 1950,
I thoroughly believe that. The 442 did nothing -
not one law, not one law touched the constitutional
issue of the camp. The 442 argument is a
justification for camp. It's a racist argument." What
is meant by such a statement? Does Chin believe
that the 442 failed to perform as a combat unit? If
so, he has no idea of what a combat infantry unit
does in a campaign against the enemy. The 442
never back peddled. It won every battle it
participated in. In fact, by taking the Vosges
Mountain sector, it defeated the defensive unit for
the first time in the annals fighting, historically. The
442 participated in one of the ten greatest battles
ever involving American combat units.
Or does Chin believe that a combat unit to be
successful, according to his way of thinking, must
effect and change laws, or induce legislators to
pass laws affecting a group. No combat unit goes
into battle with legislation in mind. War is to
determine a victor of the issue about which two
sides differ. Necessarily, killing is the determinative
factor.
I have nothing but resentment for the statements of
Chin and Abe. Their own status as citizens of the
United States was uplifted by the efforts of the nisei
fighting units. They say, "We failed." I say, it was
the record established by the fighting niseis that
made Hawaii a state, obtained redress, awarded
naturalization rights in 1952 to our parents.
Is respect as a person founded on a law? Is praise
for performing one's duty as a citizen based upon a
law? Min Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi and Korematsu
were, all, found guilty under the law at the time they
tested their issues. At the time, the Japanese,
being deprived of their constitutional rights, were
considered as enemy aliens. The Heart Mountain
Resisters, regardless of their feelings, were held to
be wrong and were penalized. The law determined
they were wrong at the time.
I take it that what Chin and Abe would have found
pleasure is in a plethora of law suits during the war.
Maybe, they don't realize that lawsuits take money.
The isseis' assets were frozen after Pearl Harbor.
Niseis were at an age either in school or working for
the family business. There was no money for
lawyers or actions. And, there were no Civil
Liberties Unions, no National Lawyers Guild or any
law group which offered its expertise for the
Japanese. No racial group supported the
Japanese cause. Justice was that if you were a
Japanese and was killed between Pearl Harbor and
evacuation, the authorities looked the other way
and the miscreant went unpunished.