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Soldier paid ultimate price for country that interned his family
Topics: local history, history, World War II, Your Words
Posted by citizenjournalist Fri Sep 28, 2007 09:00:09 PDT
Viewed 1362 times
0 responses 2 comments Pfc. Torao Hayashi, uncle of Bakersfield resident Sandy (Hayashi) Minner, fought in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army, a unit composed of mostly Japanese-Americans who fought in Europe during World War II.

Hayashi was killed on Oct. 28, 1944, during the fight to liberate a region in southern France. The 442nd suffered more than 800 casualties, nearly half its force, rescuing 211 members of the “Lost Battalion” in Biffontaine.

“What the 442nd did was instrumental in causing social change,” Minner wrote in an e-mail to The Californian. “After the war, the law that prevented Japanese immigrants, like my grandparents, from becoming U.S. citizens was eliminated. The California law that prevented them from owning land was also eliminated. We owe all veterans from WWII a lot, but people of color owe the 442nd even more. The 442nd paid in blood for the freedom we now take for granted.”

Minner, who sent three letters, went on to write:

“In the last letter, he mentions a family photo taken during his last furlough before shipping out, and how he hadn’t received it. He was killed four days later. ... We assume he never saw the photograph.

“It is ironic that the letter from the War Department informing my grandmother of her son’s death was sent first to their old address (near Sacramento). It was then forwarded to the family in the Poston, Ariz., internment camp. You’d think the War Department would be able find out where the family had been interned.”

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Dear Sis,

Sure was glad when I received your V-mail, and am happy to hear everyone is fine. As for me I’m swell and still kicking. Yes, since joining the unit, I met all the boys that I knew back in the States. In your letter you say that you mailed the family picture to my old address. Well, in that case, it will be quite some time before I’ll get it, but I’ll let you know when I get it. I heard from Roy a few days ago and he said he’s not going to school, so I take it he didn’t pass the grade. I also heard from Arlene. She said something about (unreadable) in the hospital recently. Hope it’s not serious. Well, that’s all for this time.

Till again,
Torao

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WAR
RELOCATION AUTHORITY
Dec. 19, 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Ichimatsu Hayashi
Poston, Arizona

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi:

Three years of war have brought heartache to many in our population. While there is little I can say today that will assuage your overwhelming grief, in the months to come you may think back upon my message with some small comfort. For I am proud of your son; proud that he was an American who had the strength and courage to fight for his country in her great crisis; proud that he was willing to give his blood as his last great measure of devotion. I congratulate you as parents who instilled these manly qualities in your son and prepared him to meet the greatest test of our time.

In a special sense, your son fought to win the war against two foes, the enemies of democracy abroad, and the enemies of democracy at home who use race and ancestry to confuse and defeat the real meaning of America. It is my sorrow that he could not have lived to see his bravery, his sacrifice and his suffering bear fruit in a better world for all peoples.

Sincerely,
D.S. Myer
Director

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Comment From: Tahany

I love your story and your family photos. I feel your love and respect for your family, yet I detect some bitterness. One part I didn't understand was the inference that "people of color" owe the 442nd, is a little racist, and I am surprised being of Japanese descent you would say such a statement. During WWII there were black, and Mexican units that fought. Have you ever heard of the Tuskegee Airmen? And Mexicans were very highly decorated (Medal of Honor Recipients). All races have been exploited, during various wars and conflicts, even today they pay in blood. Comment From: shminner

I suppose it would be more accurate to say Asians (vs. "people of color") owe the 442nd, as I was specifically referring to the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act, which eliminated the restriction on naturalization of Asian immigrants. That's not to say the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen or latino servicemen did not cause social change as well, but those changes occurred over a longer period of time. The 442nd, nicknamed "The Purple Heart Battalion" became "the most highly decorated unit of its size and length of service in the history of the U.S. Army..." (Wikipedia). This was in spite of the government incarceration of their families, based solely on race. Their motto ("Go for Broke") came from Hawaiian gambling slang for "risk it all", and their high casualty rate reflects that motto. They had something to prove--that their loyalty was not based on race.