Draft resistance

In 1944 the government reinstated the draft for Japanese Americans after suspending it in 1942 and began drafting men directly from the camps. This action angered many. At Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, resistance took the form of an organized movement calling itself the Fair Play Committee. Members demanded that their rights as citizens be restored before enlisting in the military. Eventually, sixty-three men from Heart Mountain refused induction and were sentenced to prison terms for draft evasion. In the other camps, disparate individuals made the decision to resist the draft. After being unfairly incarcerated for almost two years, they saw the draft as the final injustice. Ultimately, 267 men from all the concentration camps were convicted of evading the draft and most served time in prison. President Truman pardoned all of the resisters in 1947.

World War II (283)
Resistance and dissidence (97)
Draft resistance (393)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Draft resistance, Frank Emi, Gordon Hirabayashi, No-No Boy (book)

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393 items

Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 8 of 8; interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1805)

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 8 of 8; interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1805)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Kataoka discusses his hopes for the future, his feelings on Abraham Lincoln, and sneaking a letter from Hugh Nozawa to President Roosevelt out of camp. Minerich discusses the hearings that had taken place shortly before this interview at the Pentagon. Nomiyama discusses how he felt after the hearings …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1805/

doc Letter from George Ishikawa, draft resister (ddr-densho-1007-1119)

Photocopy.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1119/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 5 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1802)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Kataoka and Hayakawa discuss why they refused to serve. Kataoka discusses why he had little faith that justice would be done and the change in attitudes towards Japanese Americans since the war. Nomiyama discusses why he refused to fight. Interview starts at 0:27. Loni Ding can be heard …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1802/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 6 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1803)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Hayakawa discusses confronting his commanding officer and why he chose not to serve. Nomiyama discusses how some of his friends didn't understand why he refused to serve, and telling his children about his experiences. Kataoka discusses telling his family about his experiences during the war. Interview starts at …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1803/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 7 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1804)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Nomiyama discusses why it took so long to restart efforts to get the court-martials of the DB Boys reversed. Kataoka discusses the efforts of Edmund Zane, why he decided to try again, and his frustration with the US government. Minerich discusses why the DB Boys refused service, the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1804/

av Interview with Frank Emi, part 4 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1795)

Emi discusses the importance of the Fair Play Committee winning their case, the lasting impact of his imprisonment, the loyalty questionnaire, the beginning of the draft resistance movement, why the story of the draft resisters doesn't get as much attention as it deserves, and why the JACL and Japanese American newspapers did not support draft resistance. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1795/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 2 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1799)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Minerich discusses the urgency of the DB Boys case. Nomiyama and Kataoka discuss whether they thought their court martials would ever be reversed. Kataoka discusses growing up in LA, meeting Edmund Zane in high school, how the two became friends, how Zane picked up the legal case of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1799/

av Roger Daniels interviewed by Kent Hori, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1758)

Daniels discusses what may have happened if the Japanese American community resisted evacuation en masse, how Japanese Americans were placed under 4C (enemy alien, undraftable) status and the military's eventual interest in Japanese Americans (particularly Kibei) for intelligence work, the importance of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the loyalty questionnaire, the persecution …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1758/

doc Testimony of Jack Tono (ddr-densho-1007-1820)

Jack Kiyoto Tono's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in New York City, New York on November 23, 1981. Tono describes his experience as a Japanese American draft resister and argues his support for redress.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1820/

av Interview with Robert H. Foote, part 4 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1528)

Foote discusses discrimination against Japanese-Americans. Also talks about draft resisters and those who were killed in action. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Video starts at 1:00. Original title: 33, II NY #12, 6-85, Foote interview

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1528/

av Interview with Frank Emi, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1793)

Emi discusses being imprisoned in Leavenworth, the sentences of the members of the Fair Play Committee, the Issei who financially assisted to the Committee, the Committee's legal battles, how people often agree with draft resistance with hindsight, the various opinions of Nisei veterans on draft resistance, and the sort of student he was in high school. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1793/

img Draft resisters (ddr-densho-1007-381)

Caption on back with several names.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-381/

av Interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 3 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1807)

Grace discusses moving to Orange County after her husband's death, her impressions of the DB Boys and her relationship with them, Gary discusses learning about the DB Boys, his father's plans for his children, how going to Japan helped broaden his worldview, and his father's philosophy. Interview starts at 0:55. Loni Ding can be heard asking …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1807/

av Interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 6 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1748)

Gary discusses the decision the DB Boys made to refuse to serve, the decision to intern the Japanese American population, the importance of the Kibei to the DB Boys, his experience in Japan and his connection to his heritage, and his father's court martial. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1748/

av Interview with Arthur (Art) Morimitsu, part 5 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1753)

Morimitsu discusses his relationship with Caucasian American soldiers, stories from his service, and his thoughts on draft resisters. Video starts at 0:25. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 62B, II VFW #5, VFW - LA, Art Morimitsu, Feb. 15, 1987. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1754/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1753/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 3 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1800)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Kataoka discusses being a soldier when evacuation started, the interment of his wife, and the relationship between Kibei and Nisei soldiers. Kataoka and Nomiyama discuss how they met. Nomiyama discusses when he decided to refuse to serve, being called a traitor when he left Japan, returning to the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1800/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 21 (July 20, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-26)

Selected article titles: "27 Taken to Eureka on Draft Violation Charges" (p. 1), "Two Charged with Sedition and Conspiracy" (p. 2), and "Black Reports Temporary Ban on Block Carnivals" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-26/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. I, No. 27 (August 31, 1944) (ddr-densho-284-33)

Selected article titles: "Further Action on Tule Draft Case Dropped" (p. 1), "Stockade: Isolation Area Empty; Occupants Return Home" (p. 1), and "Sending V-Mail in Japanese Permissible" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-33/