Registration and the "loyalty questionnaire"

To help administer the military draft and work release program, the U.S. Army and the War Relocation Authority (WRA) produced "loyalty questionnaires" for all Japanese Americans seventeen years of age and older. The questionnaires contained two questions that caused confusion and controversy. Despite serious problems with the wording and meaning of the questions, government officials and others generally considered those who answered "no" to these two questions to be "disloyal" to the United States, and they were transferred to the Tule Lake concentration camp which was designated a segregation camp. "Yes" answers to these questions made Japanese Americans eligible for service in the U.S. Army, and some became eligible for release and resettlement in areas outside of the West Coast exclusion zones.

World War II (239)
Administration (220)
Registration and the "loyalty questionnaire" (282)

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282 items

doc Torakichi Nishioka Form 26 (ddr-densho-292-52)

The Form 26 Individual Record contains information about education, employment, religion, military service, addresses before and at camp, and other demographic information.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-292-52/

doc Frank Nishioka Form 26 (ddr-densho-292-50)

The Form 26 Individual Record contains information about education, employment, religion, military service, addresses before and at camp, and other demographic information.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-292-50/

doc Yoshiko Nishioka Form 26 (ddr-densho-292-51)

The Form 26 Individual Record contains information about education, employment, religion, military service, addresses before and at camp, and other demographic information.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-292-51/

Transcription of speech by Charles Ernst, Topaz camp director. Transcription from handwritten notes, object ddr-densho-410-33. (ddr-densho-410-32)

doc Transcription of speech by Charles Ernst, Topaz camp director. Transcription from handwritten notes, object ddr-densho-410-33. (ddr-densho-410-32)

Discussing goals of WRA in creating camps, and creation of all-Japanese military unit, and requirements for filling out questionnaire and registering. Typed transcription, pages 1-4

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-32/

doc Handwritten notes of speech by Charles Ernst, Topaz camp director. (ddr-densho-410-33)

A transcription of this speech is available at object ddr-densho-410-32.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-33/

vh Akio Hoshino Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-26-10)

Discussion of so-called "loyalty questions" and the decision to resist the draft

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-26-10/

vh Joe Yamakido Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-167-9)

Arrested for failing to report for army induction physical; sentenced to three years in prison

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-167-9/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 39 (ddr-densho-1000-84-39)

The so-called "loyalty questionnaire," brothers volunteer for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to prove loyalty

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-39/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-123-19)

The difficulty of responding to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-19/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-123-20)

Graduating from high school in camp, deciding whether or not to volunteer for military service

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-20/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 46 (ddr-densho-1000-184-46)

Thoughts on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-46/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 45 (ddr-densho-1000-184-45)

Printing information about the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" in the camp newspaper

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-45/

vh Marianne West Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-120-6)

Controversy over the so-called "loyalty questionnaire": "I know my civil rights were denied"

This interview took place at the 2000 Tule Lake Pilgrimage in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-120-6/

vh Art Abe Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-206-22)

Coping with sudden death of father, volunteering for the army

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-206-22/

vh Diana Morita Cole Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-483-9)

Family's decisions regarding answering the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-483-9/

vh Mitsuye May Yamada - Joe Yasutake - Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 70 (ddr-densho-1000-135-70)

Tosh's experience leaving camp and working on a sugar beet farm in Idaho

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-135-70/

vh Mitsuye May Yamada - Joe Yasutake - Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 75 (ddr-densho-1000-135-75)

Answers to the so-called "loyalty questions"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-135-75/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-2-31)

Answering "yes-no" on the so-called "loyalty questions"

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-31/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-2-30)

Reasoning behind answers to the so-called "loyalty questions"

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-30/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-2-29)

Personal response to the so-called "loyalty questions"

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-29/

vh George Nakano Interview I Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-359-9)

Parents sign "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-359-9/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-1-30)

Reasons for answering "no-no" on so-called "loyalty questions" and revisiting decision to resist the draft

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-30/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-1-19)

Family's "stop order" status and restrictions on movement

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-19/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-1-12)

Deciding to resist the draft: discussion of answers to the so-called "loyalty questions," and preparing for death

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-12/

vh Bill Hosokawa Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-129-20)

Niseis' reaction to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire": "Mostly, it was a confusion that developed gradually into anger"; deciding to answer "yes-yes"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-129-20/