<Begin Segment 7>

JA: Yeah, because there was so much misunderstanding that's going on, and number one, that's a misunderstanding between the resisters and the non-resisters, including the vets. And to me, I had something that I want to prove to the government that they cannot do this, this, this... I did not want to just blindly follow whatever they tell us to "prove your loyalty." What loyalty? I was loyal; why should I prove? Like answering that 27, 28? Yeah, I said 27, I said, "Sure, send me anywhere, I'll go." 28 I said, "No." Number one because I did not pledge allegiance to any other country, flag, whatever. And in 1943 I'm saying, "Hey, I changed my mind, I'm gonna pledge allegiance." I said, "What for?" See? Never pledged allegiance to anybody, any other country. So why should I, now, all of a sudden, pledge allegiance in 1943, staying in a concentration camp and having a 4-C.

FC: How many years did you... you were convicted?

FA: Yeah.

FC: How many years did you serve at McNeil Island?

JA: Well, we were given three years, ten months. We were the longest. That's why I say JACL was involved with Minidoka. The core of JACL was there. Hosokawa was over at Heart Mountain.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 1993, 2005 Frank Abe and Densho. All Rights Reserved.