Remembering: The Japanese American Internment Camps

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. The order called for the internment of anyone of Japanese descent, who was living on the west coast, of the United States, to camps elsewhere in the US. These camps were setup to prevent any possible Japanese spying, by these people.

Many of them, had never seen Japan, and had been born in the States. A lot of the children did not even speak any Japanese. Their citizenship meant nothing to the government, which used public fears over invasion as an excuse for the relocations.

Forced from their homes, many times without even being allowed to take anything but a suitcase of clothes for an entire family. By the time the war was over, those who went back to their homes found that their houses and business had been sold out from under them, without a cent being given to them for it.

When given the chance, many of the men of age and health joined the Army, in units such as the 442 Regiment. These Japanese American fought in the European theater, and were highly decorated.

Order 9066 and it's aftermath are one of the darkest days in American history. But from out of it came the greatness of those who had even greater obstacles to overcome, to be American. They shouldn't have had to earn it, but they did and wore it proudly.