On January 28, 1943, Secretary of War Stimson announced that the War Department would soon create an all Nisei combat team to be composed of volunteer Japanese-Americans including many from relocation centers. In connection with the call for volunteers, it was decided to conduct a special registration of male Nisei, 17 years of age and over, at all relocation centers, and to use the forms obtained as a basis for determining eligibility of volunteers for service in the combat team, for certifying individuals as eligible for work in defense industries, to facilitate WRA leave clearance, and to facilitate the possible future drafting of Nisei. For this purpose the War Department, in cooperation with WRA, devised a special 4-page questionnaire, Statement of United States Citizen of Japanese Ancestry, DSS Form 304A.
Using as a model the questionaire worked out by the Army, WRA revised a form previously in use, Application for Leave Clearance, for the leave clearance registration of all other center residents. This form was known as WRA-126 Rev., War Relocation Authority Application for Leave Clearance.
Although there were 28 questions on DSS Form 304A and 33 on WRA-126 Rev., the question which is summarized in this section, the so-called loyalty question, is number 28 on both forms. Soon after registration began, a substitute question for aliens was sent to all centers.
Question 28 on Form DSS 304A for male citizens 17 years of age and over is as follows:
"Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organization?"
Question 28 on form WRA-126 Rev. for female citizens 17 years of age and over is as follows:
" Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power or organization?"
Revised Question 28 on Form WRA-126 Rev. for all aliens 17 years of age and over is as follows:
"Will you swear to abide by the laws of the United States and to take no action which would in any way interfere with the war effort of the United States?"
All "qualified" answers have been combined inasmuch as the intent sees to be the same: "No, unless...", or "Yes, if....."
TABLE 74. FINAL REGISTRATION RESULTS ON DSS FORM 304A AND FORM WRA-126 REV.
TABLE 74. FINAL REGISTRATION RESULTS ON DSS FORM 304A AND FORM WRA-126 REV.
NOTE: Refers to final replies to Question 28 for all evacuees 17 years of age and over who resided in Colorado River WRA Center during February and March of 1943 when the Army Enlistment and WRA Leave Clearance Registration program was carried out. Final replies reflect changes from original answers submitted between date of registration and Sept 1943. Also included in tables are evacuees who were registered between March and Sept 1943 as they reached the age of 17.
Colorado River Center (Poston) Total Eligible to Register: 12,644
Male citizens...................................... 3,474
Female citizens................................. 3,274
Male aliens........................................ 3,496
Female aliens................................... 2,400Did Not Register: ..................................... 0
Answer to Question # 28
Male citizens:
Yes.................................................... 2,858
Qualified Answer............................... 115
No........................................................ 501
Did not answer ...................................... 0
Unknown................................................. 0
Female citizens:
Yes..................................................... 3,119
Qualified Answer .................................22
No.......................................................... 117
Did not answer ....................................16
Unknown ................................................0Male aliens
Yes.....................................................3,478
Qualified Answer.................................. 0
No ..........................................................12
Did not answer...................................... 6
Unknown ................................................0Female aliens
Yes .................................................. 2,388
Qualified Answer................................. 3
No............................................................ 4
Did not answer..................................... 5
Unknown................................................0
Source: The Evacuated People A Quantitative Description. U.S. Department of the Interior, J.A. Krug, Secretary, War Relocation Authority D.S. Myer, Director. 1946
