Historical information about the wartime imprisonment of the people of Japanese ancestry at one of America's concentration camps, called the "Colorado River Relocation Center".
LARGE BLOWER FAN, AIR COOLER GIVEN TO POSTON HOSPITAL
POSTON, Ariz.—Evacuees from the Visalia area, sweltering in Poston's torrid desert heat, are grateful for the contributions of a large blower fan and an air cooler for the hospital unit. Robert Cross of Tulare County donated the blower fan, which exhausts air from the room, to the hospital at Poston which will serve the people from Visalia. Miss Mieki Teraoka told Mr. Hideo the large air cooler to the hospital unit and has brought it to Poston at her own expense.
POSTON TEACHERS TRAIN AT INDIAN SERVICE SCHOOL
POSTON Ariz. — Seventy prospective Nisei teachers for the Poston school system will receive basic teachers' training at the Indian Service school, which is located 12 miles above Poston. They will be accredited by the California State Dept. of Education upon completion of the course.
WHISTLING IN THE DARK By KENNY MURASE
Introducing Little Esteban, a Sagebrush Imp
Little Esteban is the Mexican-Indian boy who lives among the sage-brushes around the camps at Poston, Arizona. He is very bold and nosey and likes to talk with everyone, but especially with me because I have a big bag of cinnamon drops snuck away, and 1 always give him two, one for each cheek, and though his cheeks bulge out until he can hardly breathe, he isn't to be kept from talking.
For just a wee bit of a boy, little Esteban has an awfully big opinion of himself—I mean he gets cocky sometimes and doesn't like to get sassed at, and when he gets mad, he spits out those cinnamon drops and usually hits what he's aiming at, which is more often than not my good right eye. But when you don't get him to acting nasty, and when he's shooting off his mouth, every once in a great while, he will say something maybe worthwhile listening to. And when he does, I give him a couple more cinnamon drops and listen very attentively as he rattles endlessly on.
I was straightening out the room one day after arrival in Poston, at the brand new camp. Number Three, when I heard someone scrambling up the wall outside. I looked up and there poking through the window was Little Esteban, his black chubby face broken up into a huge grin.
"How", said he.
"How, yourself," said I. "Come on in."
And Little Esteban clambered down, sat on top of a crate and immediately commenced filling his mouth with cinnamon drops which were in a bag lying on the floor.
"Well, kiddo, he said, "how do you like Poston?"
"I don't know," said I "we just got here and we're trying to get used to the place. Awful hot, though, isn't it ? I don't see how the people are going to do any work around here in this heat. At least you won't get any work out of me."
"Yeah, kiddo, it's hot all right," said Little Esteban, "but how about those kids you see playing out there right under the hot sun—they don't seem to mind the heat, and you're kicking. Those kids are really having a lot of fun-—you should complain-—phooey."
"But those kids," said I, mopping off my forehead with the third handkerchief of the day, "those kids are playing games and they aren't mindful of the heat."
"Sure kiddo," said Little Esteban, "that's exactly the point. They're occupied with something to do, so their minds aren't on the heat. You ought to be occupied doing something too, and you won't notice the heat either."
"Is that so?" said I, "but what can I do?"
"Anything," said Little Esteban, "there's a job for everyone here. The employment division, they tell me, is doing a great job trying to fit people into the kind of work where they'll be of the best service to the community. Maybe such as in your case where you've just come into a new camp, you won't get started in your type of work right away, but you can always help in the mess kitchen*."
"Yeah," said I, "I guess I can be doing something useful around here after all."
"Look, kiddo," said Little Esteban, and he was getting serious,"you might as well face the facts and look at it realistically."
I began wondering what he would say next—he spat out the cinnamon balls, looked me straight in the eye, and began, "You ought to decide right now whether you want to be happy or unhappy here. If you're going to be happy, you'll get it out of feeling that you're doing something useful, and the degree of that happiness will depend a lot upon whether you do a good job of it or not. And if you do your level best, you're going to find others around you not wanting to be left behind, and when you have everyone entering into the spirit of the thing, then before long the camp will be humming.
"Don't you see, kiddo," and Little Esteban was not worked up into an excited state, "you've got more than just the responsibility of a smooth running community for the best interest of all the residents—you're got the bigger responsibility of proving to the Army and the government and the American people that we are not slackers and that we still have a certain amount of just plain guts left in us which we can apply towards social ends."
"Yeah," said I, feeling small and awfully ashamed of myself, since I was doing nothing toward community betterment. "I guess I'll go on over to the kitchen and help them clean the pots and pans—-there probably won't be a big rush of people for that kind of work."
And the next day as I was gently scouring out a big aluminum cauldron, someone tapped on the window screen. It was Little Esteban again.
"How," said he, "so you're making good on what I said the other day."
"Yup," said I, "and you're right—-when you're working, the heat doesn't get you so bad, and besides, there's a swell bunch of kids working in here. Not bad, not bad at all."
"Oh, you mean the gals aren't bad?" sad Little Esteban and then he disappeared behind the sage-brushes.
TWO HUNDRED ATTEND POSTON PARTY FOR BLOCK MANAGERS
POSTON, Ariz.—Two hundred persons attended the Block Managers' get together on July 30, at which a show was put on by the Hawaiian orchestra and the Salinas Swing Band.
The program opened at 9:15 p. m. with Tomo Ito as master of ceremonies. Following his introduction of Wade Head, project director, John Evans, assistant project director, Project Attorney Haas and Mr. Galvin, the Salinas Swingsters, led by Tom Masamori, took over. Masamori sang, "Rose Marie," "Sleepy Lagoon," and "Skylark." The Kamaaina orchestra next appeared with Toshi Yatsuhiro leading. Terry Maeda gave a magnificent hula dance. Setsuko Sato gave a hula tap number. Encored was the dance duet of Florence Ikeda and Kazu Ikeda. Ross Aritaand Dorothy Kikuchi sang solos, while Sam Yamamoto, in a mop skirt, danced a novelty number to the tune of "Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai."
Arizona Commissioners Oppose Free Fishing for Evacuees Suggestion Made in Letter from Federal Forestry Official
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The state fish and game commission last week made preparations to vigorously protest a proposal to grant the 20,000 or more Japanese evacuees to be located on the Colorado River WRA project at Poston hunting and fishing privileges without charge on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
One official said that the Japanese would have to pay the regular non-resident's fee of $25 for citizens and $75 for aliens. The proposal had been made by William Zimmerman, Jr., Washington, D. C, assistant commissioner of the division of forestry and grazing, to Henry Welsh, chairman of the Colorado River Indian Reservation Tribal Council.
Non-Indian citizens of Arizona are charged a fee of $5 for hunting and fishing privileges on the reservation. Under Mr. Zimmerman's proposal, the evacuees would be required to pay the fee only for trapping.
"This office is giving careful consideration to the conservation of fish and game resources on the Colorado River Indian Reservation during the occupation by evacuees," Mr. Zimmerman wrote to Welsh. "Since these people have been necessarily moved to the reservation as a war measure, involving considerable sacrifice of personal freedom and economy, it would appear improper to apply to them the same fish and game ordinances as the council has enacted for non-Indian citizens who are free agents. A fee of $5 is now required of such citizens before they may fish on the reservation."
"In order to protect natural resources for use by the Indians after the war and at the same time provide for the evacuees, we earnestly recommend that the tribal council enact a special fish and game ordinance applicable to evacuees only, " Mr. Zimmerman incorporated the proposed ordinance in his letter.
TIMELY TOPICS COLUMN By Saburo Kido
Repercussions on Hot Climate Comment
POSTON, Ariz. The tale of the tragic arrival of the residents of the Salinas Assembly Center carried in this column brought forth repercussions from the Tulare Assembly Center where people of Pasadena, Santa Maria Valley and other coastal regions are located. Objections were lodged with us that we were hoping they would be sent to Arizona. This thought was not in our mind.
We mentioned Fresno and Tulare Assembly Centers merely as examples. It could have been Turlock, Merced or Pinedale. We believed that if anyone was to be sent to a hot climate, then it should have been those who had been conditioned to a certain degreein Central California. If it were possible, we wish that everyone could be evacuated to a climate similar to that of the coastal region of California. But since this is impossible, the humane thing would be to select those accustomed to heat to come to a hot climate.
For instance, if these in the Tanforan Assembly were to be relocated in Arizona, it would be suicidal because they would not be able to withstand the heat. It would be far worse than the Salinas tragedy.
The fortunate thing about the Salinas affair was that there were no deaths resulting from the heat prostrations. Several have died subsequently but the causes are not traceable to the heat.
MARYLAND COLLEGE OFFICIALS TO START COURSE AT POSTON
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—College-age Japanese at the Colorado River Relocation Project at Poston, Arizona, are going to get a taste of the best in English literature. "Officials at St. John's College, home of the classic method of college education which has been watched by educators all over the country, said last week that Raymond Wilburn, assistant dean, and Mrs. Wilburn had left for Poston to organize several "100 great books" seminars.
The St. John's College curriculum calls for the reading of 100 great books, ranging from Homer and Plato through Euclid, Shakespeare, Kant, Darwin and others. The Wilburns will advise the relocation authorities on the system.
THE DEAN OF WOMEN OF FRESNO STATE COLLEGE, Miss Mary C. Baker, has this to say about the PACIFIC CITIZEN:
"Your paper is invaluable at this time when there is a great need for correct information which it is impossible to get from any one source. And there is some mighty fine writing in it. I am particularly impressed with its moderation in the face of provocation, coupled with candor of expression and the evidence of a high type of loyalty."
Thank you, Miss Baker, we appreciate your unreserved opinion.
REMINDER TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS ... to ensure continued regular service be sure to send us your addresses from relocation centers . . . this applies particularly to Gila River, Sacaton, and Colorado River, Poston, Arizona.
BOOM-TOWNS . . . .
New cities arise in the American west today as a result of the Army's evacuation program. Poston, with a potential population of 20,000, will be the third largest city in Arizona. Only Phoenix and Tucson will be bigger in population. Sacaton will be right behind Poston with 15,000 Japanese evacuees and will claim the title of the fourth largest Arizona city. When Japanese evacuees arrive at the new WRA center on the Heart Mountain site near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, they will constitute the citizenry of Wyoming's third largest city. The WRA center at Abraham in Utah will vie with the city of Logan as Utah's fourth largest city.
EVACUEES HAVE SELF-RULE AT POSTON CENTER
By STANLEY WATANABE
Wartime City Now Third Largest in State of Arizona
POSTON, Ariz. —This wartime city, home of more than 10,000 Japanese evacuees and the third largest city in Arizona, has now been in existence for nearly three months. Poston community now operates under a self-governing system set up under the leadership of Wade Head, project director of the WRA center, Theodore Haas, the project attorney, and John Evans, assistant director.
People from all parts of California have now been relocated at Poston, including persons from Monterey, Orange, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Fresno and Tulare counties.
Residents of Poston have already elected their own Block Council and have voted by secret ballot for their own Community Council which consists of 31 residents who
will enforce the laws and draw up a community constitution.
THIRTEEN THOUSAND AT POSTON
Ten thousand evacuees are now residing in Poston's Camp One, while three thousand are in Camp Two, which has a potential capacity of 5,000. Camp Three which will also accommodate another 5,000 is now under construction. It is expected to be ready for occupancy later this month.
Residents expect this community to progress rapidly in the months to come. One large post office has been erected and is now taking care of all incoming and outgoing
mail. A large army base hospital with a bed capacity of 250 will soon be completed. The three canteens now in operation report daily sales averaging approximately $1700 in cash sales daily.
Motion pictures are shown four times weekly in Camp One and three times weekly in Camp Two. Dances are held twice weekly.
POSTON TO HOLD HARVEST FESTIVAL ON AUGUST 15-16
POSTON, Ariz.—-On the lines of a county fair, the Poston Harvest Festival on August I5 and 16 will feature an exhibit and judging of vegetables grown at this center.
A circus with sideshows will be put on in the adobe mesquite shelter by the Girls' clubs, with Sady Kitaoka as director.
Residents of Block 31 contributed an air cooler to their block kitchen workers in appreciation for their labor.
Poston streets will be paved shortly, if present plans are carried through. Ten miles of streets within the city proper will be paved and five miles each in Camps 2 and 3.
POSTON HATCHERY COVERS 80 ACRES
POSTON, Ariz.—Some eighty acres at this center have been set aside for a fish hatchery, according to a report in the Poston Daily Press Bulletin. Ponds 100 feet square will be constructed by the Fish Culture Department on the arrival of equipment. Carp will be the basic specie for training of the workers in studying the fundamentals of fish culture. The fish will mainly be used as agricultural fertilizer.
In agony they writhe, the curling flames
Of thirst-parched earth tormented by ill-winds;
With madness and abandon, hurtled high
-Against the listless blue and floating wisps
Of tattered clouds forsaken in the sky—
Stripped of the grace of Nature's solitude,
The sun-drenched dunes bespeak but loneliness
And though it was ordained that from this dust
The fruits should have been reaped, the heathen heart
Stands blinded by the glare of selfish lust.
What ties will form before the blood-flecked tides
Of fury in its glory is deceased?
Who knows what Fate will give or take away,
Beyond the schemes of swarming little lives
While visions blur and fact and logic stray.
To shape a dream anew from alien soil
The chosen ones have come with hushed regrets,
That liberty might never more be bled.
No greater trust was asked or still received,
When treason, truth and doubt are interwed.
All worthy things are tried, and tested worth
Is beauty blossomed from the modest seed;
The pods are breaking now, so let us then
Grow freedom in its fullness and unfurl
A lasting faith to shame all lesser men.
—Cherry Obayashi.
OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Saburo Kido and NCDC Chairman Tom Shimashaki have been evacuated to the Colorado River Relocation Project in Poston, Arizona
Mr. Kido's address is Camp 2, 215-4B.
Clovis People Aid Japanese In Evacuation
By KAZ OKA
Committee Reiterates Belief in Loyalty of American Nipponese
POSTON, Ariz. — The first direct movement of Japanese evacuees from an area within Military Zone No. 2 to the Colorado River Relocation Center, Poston, Arizona, was consummated as scheduled at approximately 2 p. m. Tuesday, July 14, with the arrival of 346 via a special train which left Clovis, California, Monday evening.
The 346 persons of Japanese ancestry were evacuated from that remaining portion of Fresno County which was in Military Zone No. 2 and was centered around the regionof Clovis and the northern part of Sanger. Approximately 294 more arrived at the Poston, Arizona, relocation camp Thursday from the same region.
Living up to its title as "The Friendly City," the Caucasian American residents of Clovis, through its Committee on National Security and Fair Play, rendered every possible assistance to the evacuees.
The committee, headed by Ralph Mason Dreger, pastor of the Clovis Methodist Church, issued a printed pamphlet, A Message to Our Neighbors and Friends on the Day of Evacuation, wherein they extended their wishes of good cheer and neighborliness and assurances "to do everything possible to reduce the hazards and soften the effects of your enforced absence."
The committee reiterated their belief in the evacuees' loyalty to the United States and promised "that the evacuation does not in our minds reflect in any way upon your integrity as citizens."
Among the members of the Committee who signed the statement were, besides Chairman Dreger, Frederick V. Dabold, pastor of the Clovis Baptist Church, Paul E. Andrews and Glenn D. Reavis, respective principals of the Clovis Union High and elementary schools, Elbert Franck, president of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Luther E. Welden of Clovis.
The Fair Play Committee, working in close conjunction with the Clovis branch of the Fresno Japanese American Citizens' League and represented by Jimmy Miyamoto and Tokuo Yamamoto from the Board of Governors, furnished transportation and "otherwise assisted the evacuees to prepare for the movement to their new quarters.
Chairman Ralph Dreger of the Fair Play Committee served refreshments to the evacuees while waiting for their train at the depot.
Mrs. Anna M. Johnson is another member of the Clovis Fair Play Committee who should merit a word of praise for the unselfish and persevering efforts which she expended to make the departure more pleasant and bright. In point of fact, the names mentioned are only a small portion of the residents who gave every aid possible and caused the evacuees to leave with a feeling that "everything's going to be okay."
To this outpost of civilization, the new boom town of Poston, Arizona, 579 of us arrived on Friday, July 16. A special train brought us from Lindsay to Parker, Arizona, where we transferred to a bus to reach this destination. When we registered, we were greeted with salt tablets and water. We appreciated the water but wondered why and wherefore the tablet. But being a newcomer, we followed instructions and took the generous offer. It was rather warm, but not exceptional compared to the central California heat.
As we began to meet friends and talk about things, we found out the mystery about the salt tablets. The Salinas people who had come during the Fourth of July week had come from a cool climate to the roasting heat of 120-130 degrees. Heat prostration was prevalent. People fainted in the mess hall. People fainted at the latrines. People had to be rushed to the hospital. Even to this day, the administration is giving these people time to recover their strength before asking them to work.
Salinas People Affected by Heat
The more we hear about the tragic arrival of the Salinas Assembly center residents, we wonder who blundered into this mistake. The conversation we had with Mrs. Richard Neustadt and others of the Federal Social Security Board and others in San Francisco comes to our mind vividly. We were 'firmly convinced that coast people, unaccustomed to heat, should not be sent to Arizona. And it was our understanding that this would be followed out.
Instead of Salinas, there was the Fresno Assembly center which had been roasting in 120 degrees and whose residents would have been conditioned to this climate. Also,there were Tulare Assembly center residents ready to meet this hot weather.
The reception committee members are having a big laugh now because they claim that the Lindsay contingent looked more spry than those who were out to greet them- Of course, it is claimed that we brought the cooler weather and that a shower of the night before had helped a great deal.
Learning to Walk Is Camp Necessity
The first thing we are learning to do is to walk. To call on friends requires considerable traveling on foot because there are no trains, buses or private cars. One may have a lift on a truck if he is fortunate. The food so far seems passable, This does not necessarily mean that it is up to the standard of most of the people. No matter how low the standard of living is. claimed to be for the Japanese, at least in food we believe we are pretty particular.
Barracks Not Suitable For Family Groups
The barracks would be all right for soldiers, but it is not the kind of home one would declare suitable for children and married people. The reason, most likely, is that army engineers planned them with the idea of men, and did not realize that women and children were also to occupy them. The latrines have flush systems, but no partitions. Of course men and women have separate buildings. It is easy to ..excuse things because of the abnormal conditions which are existing at the time being. But on the other hand, we comment on this matter to call attention to the necessity of thinking in terms of human beings composed of men, women and children.
The greatest concern unquestionably should be for the welfare of the little ones. Lack of privacy is the first step to the promotion and fostering of immorality.
Camp Leadership Sympathetic, Friendly
There may be those who are so imbued with race hatred that they would not care what happens to the Japanese, even though the people involved may be innocent. But
America today is spending millions and billions to help the outside world. If charity is to begin at home, it is only natural that consideration be given to this growing generation of American citizens who someday will once again be turned loose Into the outside world and who are today giving their share for national defense by being confined in this outpost of civilization.
We have not had the time to meet the people who are directing the destinies of this new community. But from all accounts, the residents seem to be grateful for the sympathetic and friendly attitude. The morale Is, very good, despite the pesty dust which comes blowing into the rooms and other shortcomings which time; we hope, will cure.
Poston Will Become Thriving Farm Center
Through the cooperation of the administration and the residents, it will not surprise us to find this community become a thriving center of industry and agriculture. Nisei farm experts are being given the freedom to study and plan things. When the surrounding lands are subjugated, the real work will begin.
It is up to the American people here and the government to decide the quantity of food to be produced here. There are so called "big time" farmers who used to operate hundreds of acres by themselves. If the equipment and facilities are available, Poston will become the agricultural center or Arizona. Of course the climatic conditions remain to be studied for the kind -of crops to be grown. At least the Nisei experts seem to have confidence. There seems to be little doubt as to the fertility of the soil. Arizona and the nation as a whole will find another "food basket" if they help to develop this new community and keep politicians and race mongers from meddling with the work of the War Relocation Authority.
Present Wage Level Means Exploitation
Generous America should know the truth. The relocation centers are paying men $12, $16 and $19 a month for 48 hours a week work. Can this country face the world and claim to be benevolent when it is paying wages which our parents used to receive
when they first came to America as contract laborers over 50 years ago. Can civilized
America be proud of exploiting the labor of its own citizens by paying slave wages?
Medical supplies are deficient; hospital equipment is inadequate.
But still the men are going out in the wasting sun in 100-110 degrees to do their share. To subject 100,000 persons of Japanese extraction to such a low standard of living and wage scales may satisfy the ego of the race mongers, but the record will be a blot in this nation's history.
At Poston, there was a Christian church in each of the three camps (There were three separate camps at Poston: I, II, III). Twenty-four ministers, the largest number gathered in any relocation center, took turns preaching.Tameichi Okimoto (Poston block 327) andKanichi Niizato were the Issei Holiness evangelists located there. Okimoto served as a secretary at the church in Poston III. He was also the coordinator for all of the Holiness ministers scattered in the various camps.
At Poston III, two services were held for the convenience of the worshipers; however, everyone gathered together once each month. They published a weekly bulletin, drafted a Constitution, held special evangelistic meetings whenever they had an outside guest, and organized a New Year’s convention. In other words, church activities were very similar to the ones they held outside of the barbed wires. Once when the blind evangelist Kanichi Niizato spoke, more than 600 gathered to hear him.
Source: OMS Holiness Church of North America: Education and Publication Committee.
http://kuzuharalibrary.com/history/activities_in_camps.html
Military Police Quell Revolt of Japs Held in Internment Camp
Parker, Ariz. (UP)-A 5 day rebellion at the Poston Japanese relocation center which followed the jailing of two men on charges of assault to kill was ended Monday by military police.
W. Wade Head, superintendent of the camp--largest of the centers to which west coast Japanese were evacuated--said the revolting group flew banners bearing Japanese characters Monday night and played Japanese martial music.
"A small but well organized pro-Axis group took advantage of the situation to seize control of the largest of the three Poston units and create a general strike, " he said.
The recalcitrants had been barricaded in the community jail since Wednesday. They forced their city council to resign, Wade said, and had caused a stoppage of all work in unit No. 1.
Head said about a third of the 20,000 Japanese in the Poston camp were affected by the work walkout. He gave no details of the methods used by a "strong force" of military police in quieting the Japanese but indicated there was no blood shed or damage to property.
(Source: Journal Final-Milwaukee, Wis., Monday, November 23, 1942)
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November 14, 1942
A group of men described by various witnesses as numbering from 5-15 persons entered the barracks occupied by Kay Nishimura and attacked him with pieces of pipe. It should be noted that this individual is the same person mentioned above as having been assaulted on September 12, 1942. The nature of the second assault was such that it was apparent that there was an attempt to kill Nishimura. He suffered a brain concussion and numerous stitches were necessary on various parts of his body. XXX later stated that he recognized one of his attackers as having appeared in various Judo tournaments in Los Angeles, and he believed that this assailant was a ranking jiu jitsu artist.
As a result of this assault the Camp Police arrested [George Fujii] and [Isamu Uchida] and lodged them in the jail at Unit No. 1. Uchida is an instructor in the Judo school at Colorado River, and is considered by the Japanese as ranking very highly as a jiu jitsu artist. XXX was taken into custody by virtue of the fact that he was a former brother-in-law of XXX. Both Fujii and Uchida are Kibei.
November 18, 1942
As a result of the arrests of Fujii and Uchida mentioned above, a petition was presented to the Project Director by certain Japanese at the Center requesting that Uchida and Fujii be immediately released and the charges against them be dropped. Two other similar petitions were later presented to the Project Director. When it becomes apparent that the prisoners would not be released, a general strike occurred about noon of November 18, 1942. This resulted in all Japanese quitting their work with the exception of a few Japanese boys and girls working in the Caucasian mess hall, and a very limited number of others on individual jobs. Some of the Japanese quitting work stated that they were quitting through fear, as they had been indirectly threatened.
It is reported that the Japanese took possession of the food warehouses and 26 Government-owned trucks and motor vehicles which had been used on the various work projects in the camp. At the same time a mob reported to number as high as 1,000 persons gathered in front of the camp jail, where they played Japanese martial music on the public address system. Spokesman for this mob stated that they would not permit the removal of the two prisoners from the camp, and during the afternoon, in conference with Mr. Evans, the Acting Project Director, the release of the prisoners was requested with the assurance that charges would not later be brought against them.
During the later afternoon on November 18, 1942, Mr. Townsend, an official of the camp in charge of transportation, was threatened by the mob with personal violence, and he was verbally abused. The gasoline tanks of several white employees' automobiles were drained. By night the Japanese has complete control of the camp except for the small portion where white citizens resided. It is reported that his mob stayed around the jail continuously, day and night, until the prisoners were released on November 24, 1942.
In connection with this case, facts concerning XXX were reviewed by the United States Attorney at Phoenix, Arizona, on December 19, 1942. The United States Attorney declined prosecution because of the unsettled conditions at the camp, the impossibility of conducting logical investigation at the time, and because of insufficient evidence.
As noted above, XXX were released on November 24, 1942, at which time the strike was called off.
Source: FBI Memorandum RE: War Relocation Authority-Riots, Strikes, and Disturbances in Japanese Relocation Centers. 1943
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The Poston Strike
On Saturday night, November 14, (1942) a group of unidentified evacuees entered the quarters of a Kibei (American born, but educated in Japan) resident at the Colorado River Relocation Center and beat him into unconsciousness. On the following day the Internal Security force picked up 2 young men in the center as suspects and held them in detention. Then on Monday morning, the 16th, the FBI in Phoenix was asked by the center staff to send in a couple of agents for a spot investigation.
Meanwhile, the story had been thoroughly spread over Unit One (Poston camp I) of the Colorado River Center and had already aroused some ominous rumblings. As it happened, the beaten Kibei was widely suspected of being an informer and was unpopular on other grounds, while the 2 suspects were quite generally respected and admired. Against this kind of background, the whole incident soon became the focus for a community-wide expression of all the grievances and resentments that had been piling up since the time of evacuation.
Within a few days after the arrest a committee of 7 residents called upon the Project Director to vouch for the good character of the detainees and ask for their release. By this time, however, the "prestige" of the administration and its ability to maintain a well-ordered community seemed to be rather clearly at stake. Consequently, even though the administration realized that the evidence against the 2 suspects was very substantial, it felt almost compelled to reject the request rather than run the risk of weakening its position irreparably. Sometime later, after the committee members reported this decision back to the community, a crowd of about a thousand residents gathered outside the project jail--for the ostensible purpose of preventing the removal of the 2 prisoners from the center--and word was passed throughout the community that there would be a strike of all but the most essential services.
In this situation the administration faced 3 possible courses of action: (1) it could give in to the evacuees' demand and release the suspects; (2) it could call in the Army troops stationed on the exterior of the center and turn the community over temporarily to military administration; or (3) it could attempt to negotiate with the evacuees and work out a reasonably satisfactory compromise. The first course was rather quickly rejected as wholly impractical and was never seriously urged by any of the leading staff members. The question, therefore, boiled down to a choice between the other 2 alternatives. Summoning of the troops was most strongly advocated by several staff members and by the representatives of the FBI who had been called into the center in connection with the arrests. Other staff members, however, stood firmly for the third course as the only properly democratic way of meeting the situation. At a rather crucial staff meeting held in the administration building while the crowd was gathered around the project jail, the Acting Project director heard both sides fully and then decided that the Army would not be called in.
Immediately after this decision was reached, the FBI agents refused to take any further part in investigating the disturbance and promptly left the center. After their departure, the administration released one of the two suspects (against who there was practically no substantial evidence) but prepared to file charges against the other in the county court. Before taking final action, however, the Acting Project Director first sought the advice of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs--the Colorado River center was technically administered by the Office of Indian Affairs at this time--and then ultimately conferred by long distance telephone with the Secretary of the Interior. Pointedly refusing to issue any orders on the question, the Secretary nonetheless expressed his opinion that the matter could probably best be settled by releasing the one remaining prisoner to the custody of the community. On November 23 (1942) just 9 days after the original beating incident, an agreement on this basis was reached between the administration and an emergency committee of the residents which had been representing the community after resignation of the temporary council. This brought the incident more or less officially to an end.
The Poston demonstration, which was confined entirely to one of the three communities making up the center, was probably the least serious of the three major incidents which occurred at WRA centers during the life of the program. Although emotions occasionally ran high and the atmosphere was almost constantly tense, there was no physical violence whatever and no destruction of government property. On the whole, the incident probably provided a healthy release for pent-up emotions and qualified observers are generally agreed that Poston emerged as a stronger and more stable community after it was over. At the same time, however, it provided the newspapers with a large number of over-simplified stories and headlines about "pro-Axis" activity at the center, tended to deepen and corroborate the widespread public attitude of suspicion toward the evacuated people, and thus set in motion a train of events which ultimately made segregation of the evacuees into 2 groups almost inescapable.
Source: WRA. A Story of Human Conservation. U.S. Department of the Interior. J.A. Krug, Secretary. War Relocation Authority D.S. Myer, Director. 1946
The brave 25 young men who gave their life for their country
Endo, Hiroo H, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/4/1921 in Downey, California and worked as a telephone operator. Hiroo and his mother was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (220-8-C)., where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and inducted on 7/26/1943. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company G. Hiroo was killed in action at the age of 25 years, on 4/8/1945 at Mt. Belvedere, Italy. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge and the Bronze Star. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Fuji, Abe M., Staff Sergeant, was born on 4/17/1920 and raised in Salinas, California. He graduated from the University of California and attended Hastings Law School in San Francisco when he volunteered for the U.S. Army on 12/30/1941 and married Thelma Noguchi of Poston II camp (215-3-A) before going on active duty. Abe fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 232nd Combat Engineer Company and was killed in action on 10/15/1944 in the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Fujiki, Charles S., Private 1st Class, was born in 1924 in Watsonville, California and finished three years of high school, when Charles and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (214-1-A). He graduated from Poston II high school and enlisted into the U.S. Army and inducted on 9/15/1944. Charles fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C, and died non-battle on 2/9/1946 in Italy from an accident. Award: Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
Hayashi, Tadao "Beanie", Private 1st Class, was born on 2/20/1924 in Salinas, California and graduated from Salinas Union High School. Tadao and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and then to Poston II camp (block 213). He enlisted for the U.S. Army from Poston in 2/1943 and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company I. Tadao was killed in action on 4/28/1945 during a reconnaissance mission in the Po Valley Campaign in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Florence American Cemetery near Florence, Italy.
Hayashi, Torao, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/24/1914 in Sacramento, California and graduated from high school in Sacramento. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1/1941 and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Pinedale Assembly Center, and then to to Poston II camp (208-2-C). Torao fought with the 100th Battalion, Company B, and was killed in action on 10/28/1944, at the age of 30 years, during the second day of the battle in rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Distinguished Unit Badge. Burial: East Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento, California.
Horiuchi, Paul Fumio, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/25/1922 in Walnut Grove, California and graduated from high school in Watsonville, California. He worked for the Nichi-Bei Japanese American Newspaper before Paul and his family were forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and then to Poston I camp (2-14-D). Paul enlisted into the U.S. Army in 5/1943 from Poston and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company E, 1st Platoon. He was killed in action at the age of 22 years on 10/19/1944 during the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, in San Bruno, California.
Inouye, Eugene T, Private, was born in 1926. Eugene and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (45-8-A), where he later enlisted in the U.S. Army. Eugene was inducted on 4/9/1945 after leaving Poston camp I to work in Chicago. Before reporting to Fort Douglas, Utah, he went to San Dimas, California, to visit his father and became ill and died on 6/22/1945, during the time that his family was returning home from Poston.
Izumizaki, Henry Sadao, Private 1st Class, was born in 3/1920 in Watsonville, California. Henry and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (220-8-C) , where he was a carpenter for the school construction project. In 3/1943, Henry enlisted in the U. S. Army, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F. He was killed in action on 11/2/1944 during the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star and Distinguished Unit Badge. Final burial: Watsonville Memorial Park in Watsonville, California.
Madokoro, Harry Fumio, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/1/1912 in Watsonville, California, and graduated from Watsonville Joint Union High School. Harry and his mother were forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and later to Poston II (block 213). Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army from Poston II camp, where he had served as the Police Chief for camp II. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company K, 2nd Platoon, 1st Squad and was killed in action on 8/25/1944 during the Battle of Luciana in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, and Distinguished Service Cross. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Mizokami, Timothy Itsuo, Staff Sergeant, was born on 2/14/1919 in Aromas, California, and graduated from Salinas Union High School. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and stationed at Camp Shelby, MS when his family was forced to evacuate to Poston III camp (block 318). Tim fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company M, and was killed in action on 11/13/1944 at the age of 25 years, during the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge and Purple Heart. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Mukai, Hachiro, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/27/1919 in Menlo Park, California and was a salutatorian for Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California. Hachiro registered for the U.S. Army draft on 2/2/1942. His family was forced to evacuate from Milpitas, California to Poston III camp(318-3-A). Hachiro visited his family in Poston in 10/1943 from Fort Riley and in 7/1944 from Fort Meade. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F, 3rd Platoon and was killed in action on 10/22/1944 after the Battle of Bruyeres near Biffontaine, France with the O'Conner Task Force Operation. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Distinguished Unit Citation. Burial: U.S. Military Cemetery in Epinal, France.
Nagato, Fumitake, Private 1st Class, was born on 8/2/1918 in Los Angeles, California and graduated from high school in Brawley, California. Fumitake and his family were farming in Brawley when they were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (60-4-C). Fumitake enlisted in the U.S. Army from Poston and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company G. He was killed in action at the age of 26 years, on 10/20/1944 in the Battle of Bruyeres Campaign in the Vosges Mountains in France. Awards: Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Purple Heart. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Narimatsu, John T., Corporal, was born 2/23/1919 in Dinuba, California and graduated from Reedley High School. John and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston III camp (306-10-D), where he enlisted for the U.S Army in 1944. John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company L, and died of battle wounds on 11/1/1944 during the Vosges Mountain-St. Die Campaign near Epinal, France. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba, California.
Nishimoto, Tom Tomiya, Private, was born on 9/14/1917 in Los Angeles, California and attended Central Union High in El Centro, California and Central Junior College. Tom and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (53-1-A). Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army in 6/1944 from Detroit, MI, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company L, 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad. He was killed in action on 4/5/1945 in the Po Valley Campaign in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Badge. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Nitta, Kongo, Private, was born on 5/13/1922 and lived in Watsonville, California. Kongo and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (216-12-B). Kongo was inducted into the U.S. Army in 3/1945 and accidentally drowned during basic training at Camp Maxey, Texas on 7/14/1945.
Ogawa, John Norio, Sergeant, was born on 3/10/1916 in Garden Grove, California and graduated from Garden Grove High School. He was a farmer before he was inducted into the U.S. Army on 12/1/1941. His family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (38-1-B). John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I, and was killed in action on 4/21/1945 near Foce I Cuccu, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster. Burial: Magnolia Cemetery in Garden Grove, California.
Ohama, Abraham Jiro, Technical Sergeant, was born on 6/1/11916 in Guadalupe, California and graduated from Sanger High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Army from Los Angeles, California on 2/23/1941. Abe's family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (222-9-G). Before being sent overseas for active duty, Abe spent his last furlough was with his family at Poston camp II and was the best man for his brother's wedding. Abe fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F, 2nd Platoon (leader) and was killed while going to the aid of a wounded buddy on 10/20/1944 during the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Centerville Cemetery in Sanger, California.
Onoye, Lloyd Mitsuru, Private 1st Class, was born on 9/15/1921 in Salinas, California and graduated from Salinas High School and Salinas Junior College. Lloyd's family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (213-8-B), where he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2/1943. Lloyd fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I, and was killed in action at the age of 24 years on 4/21/1945 during the Po Valley Campaign near Fosdinova, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Unit Badge. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Sakamoto, Atsushi, Technical Sergeant, was born on 10/5/1916 and grew up in San Pedro, California. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942, and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (226-8-B). Atsushi fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company K, and was killed in action at the age of 28 years, on 7/17/1944 in the Livorno-Luciana area in the Rome-Arno battle in Italy. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star and Purple Heart. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Shiomichi, Joe Ryo, Private, was born on 8/31/1920 in Brawley, California, graduated from Brawley High School and the University of California, Berkeley. Joe and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (6-5-D), where he taught chemistry in high school. Joe enlisted for the U.S. Army from Poston, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I. He was killed in action at the age of 23 years on 7/19/1944 in the Rome-Arno battle. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Bronze Star. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Shiramizu, James Kiyoshi, Technical Sergeant, was born on 2/1/1919 in Salinas, California, attended Gonzales High School and graduated from Salinas High School. His family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II (214-8-C). James was drafted in Los Angeles, and fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion, Medical Detachment in the Salerno-Cassino Campaign with the 34th Red Bull Division. He died of wounds on 1/14/1944 near Presenzano, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Medical Badge. Buried: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Teshima, Michio R., Private, was born on 3/18/1923 in Riverside, California and attended college in Michigan while his family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (block 31). Michio enlisted in the U.S. Army on 4/7/1944 and fought with the 100th Battalion, Company C as a replacement, and killed in action on 4/5/1945 at Serraezzo, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Toyota, Shichizo, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/10/1919 in Modesto, California and attended schools in Gilroy, California. Shichizo and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (213-1-C), where he worked for the Unit II Community Activities Department, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on 6/5/1943. Shichizo fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company E, and was killed in action at the age of 25 years on 7/13/1944 in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Tsukamoto, Daniel Y, Private 1st Class, was born on 5/12/1921 and attended Roosevelt High School and Los Angeles City College. Daniel and his mother were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (46-5-C). Dan fought with the 100th Battalion/44nd Regimental Combat Team,Company D, and died non-battle from a truck accident on 8/26/1944 in Italy. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Yamamoto, John Tsuyoshi, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/29/1924, grew up in Oceanside, California and attended Carlsbad High School. John and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (22-1-C). He enlisted for the U.S. Army and was inducted in 6/1943. John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company H, 3rd platoon (mortar section) and was killed in action at the age of 20 years, on 7/15/1944 at Grosseto, Italy during the Rome-Arno Campaign. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Bronze Star. Burial: Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
Photo: Located at the Poston Memorial Monument, Poston, AZ.
