Be Descriptive

In January of 1943, the detainees at Camp Rohwer were expected to fill out a loyalty questionnaire, in which they were asked to “forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, to any foreign government, power, or organization” (114). The surveys were mandatory for all interned men and women over the age of 17. There were other questions as well, including one in which the respondent was to indicate whether or not they would be willing to serve in the United States Army. Many detainees found these questions appalling for a number of reasons, particularly as, prior to this, men of Japanese descent attempting to enlist were forbidden from serving, designated “4-C: Enemy Aliens” (111). Japanese American men already serving in the military at the time of Pearl Harbor were dismissed. Both Takekuma and Fumiko refused to answer either of these questions in the affirmative, taking a stand against the unethical and immoral ways they were being treated.