Sands of Manzanar
PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO A FRIEND OF MINE, KOJI. HIS FAMILY ENDURED THE INJUSTICE THAT EXISTED ON THE HOME FRONT during WWII.
It wasn’t the deadly black sand that greeted the US Marines on Iwo Jima.
But as we stood on out on the desert, white powdery dust would swirl up in the softly blowing arid wind… and I then realized it was upon this gawd-awful sand that my Aunt Shiz and Uncle John built their future for their family.
It was their Iwo Jima… It was called the “Manzanar War Relocation Center” by our government back during World War II.
They were forced onto these forsaken sands by FDR in April of 1942 but made the most of it. Quietly. 仕方が無い… 我慢. Shikataganai and gaman.
FDR called it relocation centers.
It’s just my opinion but political correctness be damned.
It was a prison. Complete with eight guard towers and soldiers manning .30 caliber Browning machine guns. Barbed wire fencing all around. No freedoms. Chow at specific times. Public toilets and…
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Posted on November 8, 2014, in Home Front, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, family history, History, Japan, Military, Military History, nostalgia, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
In WWII, Canada also interned Japanese-Canadian citizens in concentration camps near cities like Edmonton after declaring War on Japan in 1941, and in support of our US allies also going to war against the same. That wasn’t the only ethnicity that our government became xenophobic against.
Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, on Italy in 1940 and on Finland, Hungary and Romania in 1941. In all cases, Canadians of German, Italian, Finnish and Hungarian birth or descent were all rounded up from their homes, businesses and workplaces and interned in concentration camps out of suspicion that they’d aid the enemies. It didn’t matter if the citizens may have actually been against Hitler, Tojo, Hirohito, Mussolini, Tito, or anyone fascist.
It was a shameful time in our history.
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Ours too (and throw in the Native Americans & First Nation), I added in the previous posts about Canada having the internment camps, but I was unaware of the Finnish and Hungarians been imprisoned. Thanks for adding in this information, Allan Fear makes idiots of us, doesn’t it?
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So many horrors and atrocities by so many nations during WW2, and this is a shameful part of US History
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Very true, LB. As I said to Hollie, FDR sent our troops out to fight for the freedoms of others, but imprisoned his own citizens!
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It is shameful the way Japanese-American’s were imprisoned during WW2…I think during such frightening times terrible things happen that defy common sense. thank you for this wonderful post…my grandfather was wounded at Iwo Jima, to this day has shrapnel in his
shoulder.
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It’s ironic that FDR sent your grandfather out into the PTO to fight for the freedoms of others, but imprisoned his own citizens….a very shameful episode in our history! Thank you for reading and taking the to share with us, Hollie.
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Unfortunately Canada is guilty of the same.
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Yes, unfortunately. I mentioned information on that in the previous post, “February 1942 (2).” Thank you for for stopping by to read Koji’s story of his family, Shelley.
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Thanks for the link to that site, truly remarkable, and the story of Toyo’s camera shows a very versatile man.
I left the following comment.
A very interesting and informative read, on a dark side of the treatment of American Japanese, it intrigues me in your statement,Manzanar internee Pfc Sadao Munemori – through his brave actions on the battlefield – was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor.
How could a soldier who served, become an internee ? seems odd.
Was interesting to read of Toyo’s camera, a very resilient man.
Ian
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I can see where you became confused on that statement. He was originally an internee – then became a soldier. Many of the young men were enlisted out of the camps to go to Europe or the Intelligence school. I’m very glad you enjoyed this post, I think Koji did his family much honor with this post – well actually his whole site when you come down to it.
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Thanks gpcox on clarifying that statement, still its a bit of an enigma,they were not trusted enough on face value and had to be interned, then solicited for military service, seems like a case of brainwashing,no internee would voluntarily side with the perceived enemy to prove their loyalty, maybe just my mind is confused on the scenario.
Cheers
Ian
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The entire situation was insane and illegal!
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Kristina McMorris has written a magnificent novel, Bridge Of Scarlet Leaves, about this painful story in our nation’s history. Her novels of WWII are magnificently researched
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Thank you for letting us know about this book, Sheri. I appreciate you taking the the time to share that with everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!!
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I passed by Manzanar many times on my way to Yosemite National Park. It always saddened me to see the austere and harshness of the Manzanar War Relocation Center. The very desolate conditions that the Japanese were forced to live in, through no fault of their own, still boggles my mind. I stopped one time, when I actually realized what I was about to pass by. It was extremely humbling, on so many levels.
Koji’s tribute is heartfelt and heartwarming.
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Thank you very for stopping in to read Koji’s story, Lorri. I only wish I had seen it as well.
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Thanks for sharing this.
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Koji did a terrific job of honoring his family here. You should check out his other posts!
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What a incredible story. Have to agree with him about executive orders. Just read a book and although it’s fiction it recounts WW11 through a Dane eyes and what happen in Denmark.
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Kathy, I appreciate you coming to view a part of Koji’s family’s history. All parts of history need to be out in the open.
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Yes they do, Everett and really learned alot.
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Dear God!…….
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….and so many people knew nothing of these events!!
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2013%2F05%2F28%2F186899875%2Fafter-long-wait-for-combat-tad-nagaki-became-pow-liberator&ei=vBReVMLtIIWkyATUuYKgBw&usg=AFQjCNEAC9EGRD5qXp5kVkvXkyaeshY05A&sig2=5WYE5UXOIePCMepouSLCAg
The late Tad Nagaki of my hometown is a prime example of the sort of men the Japanese community brought to the fight in WWII.
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You’ve shared a wonderful story of your neighbor that shows beyond question the loyalty and bravery of the Japanese-American during WWII. I greatly appreciate your contribution to this portion of the site, Doug, Thank You.
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Koji does incredible honor to his family.
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Yes, he does, always. I feel that shows the character of the man! Thank you for reading, Colleen.
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