Dear Betty,
Forgive me for not writing you the last two months, as life here has been hectic. Mama is very pregnant. She is due in early December. But the happy news ends with my first two sentences because Papa has been taken away to a prison after a six day trial that started the entire event months ago with a questionnaire about our loyalty to the United States. Back in February, military soldiers came to the camp and gave everyone a loyalty form. I have rarely seen Papa angry, as he is always so quiet and stoic, but he was furious that day. A good sized group of the Nisei men were discussing the confusing questions at the end of the form. They talked long into the night, and I woke several times to see Mama pacing their little part of the room. I’m old enough to know this was not a good sign. After several days of listening around the camp, I have pieced together the conversations enough to go and ask Mrs. Brown, our 11th grade teacher, to explain the loyalty questionnaire. One question asked if they were willing to serve in combat duty wherever they were ordered to go. The other question asked them to swear allegiance to the United States. Many of the men, including Papa, resented the questions, since they were already citizens by birth and had lost their farms, homes, and jobs due to the internment. However, for every objector, there are many more Nisei around the camp who are ready and willing to serve because they see it as their way of proving their loyalty. They have headed off to their physical examinations and will join the 442 regiment willingly. The two opposing views have created some strong division in camp, and Papa’s group remained unmoved on their position that to both keep us here and ask the men to fight is against our rights as citizens.
Over the last year, the men began to refuse attending the physical examinations for the draft. I have been covering some of the stories in the Heart Mountain sentinel for Mr. Hosokawa. There was also a lot of anger at Papa and the other men who refused the draft because many felt the draft was the only way for Nisei men to prove their loyalty. For a while we all thought it would blow over, but in March the U.S. Marshals arrested Papa and the other men refusing the draft. Papa was placed in a jail in Cody.
The trial lasted six days, and all of the 86 men were convicted. Papa has been sent to Tacoma, Washington for a 4 year sentence. Mama has not cried yet, and I don’t think she will. She sits in the curtained off bedroom stone faced and silent. I think she worries that others will feel he has brought shame to our family, but I think he has brought honor because he has stood up against what is unjust
and wrong. I am proud of him and will tell anyone who dares to say otherwise that they are wrong.
Has the trial been covered in the papers there at home? Mama asked me to inquire about the farm and most particularly the house. She wishes to know how the almond grove is growing. She wonders if the young trees on the west side of the property are producing fruit? She asks that you thank your parents again, as they do us a great honor in caring for the farm. We can never repay your friendship.
Perhaps you could send news of how you are doing? I could use a happy story from you, dear friend.
Ever yours,
Joyce Uyeda
