In Visalia, California, three shots from a high-powered rifle were fired in the house occupied by Sam Uyeno (Poston 309-9-B) and 10 other Japanese on February
27, 1945 Sheriff S. Sherman disclosed. Investigating the shooting, the sheriff
discovered a small unoccupied building near Uyeno's place had been burned by
trespassers later the following night. The building was owned by Frank
Sakaguchi, (Poston 309-6-A) who is at the Poston, Arizona camp. Two bullets entered the living room and
one in the bedroom of the Uyeno home. Although bullets passed near some of the
11 occupants, none were injured. Uyeno relocated from the Poston
Relocation Center and returned with 10 of his family and relatives, including
his elderly parents and several children.
John Shiokari |
Shoikari was evacuated to the Poston Relocation Camp and returned to his
ranch on February 15.
Reported in the Topaz Times, June 8, 1945.
Sheriff S.B. Sherman of Kings County
revealed last week that someone had fired two rifle shots into the home of Kaudy Mimura, 32, of Orosi, California (Poston 309-13-C) . No one was injured by the shots.
Kaudy Mimura |
Reported in the The July 9 edition of the Gila News-Courier; story originally from
the Arizona Daily Star of June 3, 1945.
In the town of Parlier, California, the law abdicated in
favor of community opinion, in the case of the farmer who fired a shotgun into
the home of Charles Iwasaki, (Poston 308-3-B) a Japanese American. The guilty an was given a
six-month sentence—suspended.
Charles K. Iwasaki |
L.B. Crosby, the justice of peace, defended his leniency with the plea
that feeling in the community was such that he did not feel that public opinion
would support any other sentence. The community decided that if he was lenient
with the guilty man, there would be no more shootings. "It will be our national shame, and not merely a matter of one state, if
this situation is not corrected. These Nisei were removed from their homes and
business due to an army order under the stress of military necessity. Most of
them have behaved in a manner which displayed exceptional poise and dignity
under extreme stress. Now, the government which ordered them removed, has
issued orders for their return. It is up to the government to see that they are
permitted to return to their homes and businesses without being met with gun
fire and arson at the hands of some super-patriots. It is equally a task for
the government which moved them to see to it that they have the protection,
under the law to which they are entitled. They obeyed the law when they were
moved. the law should insure them safety as they return."