U.S.-Japanese Soldiers Proud Of Citizenship
--Says Capt. Condon

[Photo caption]: Capt. Herbert T. Condon, Jr. 'These men have something to fight for'

The United States made a first-class addition to its fighting forces when it brought 2,500 Japanese-American soldiers to this country from Hawaii--chiefly because the men are intensely proud of their American citizenship--Capt. Herbert T. Condon, Jr., of Seattle, said today.

Captain Condon, son of Dean and Mrs. Herbert T. Condon, 4718 21st Ave. N.E., was one of the officers who escorted the volunteer unit, first of its kind, from the Hawaiian Islands to Camp Shelby in Mississippi. The outfit disembarked at a West Coast port April 9 and five days later was in Camp Shelby.

"Those men have something to fight for," said Captain Condon, who is visiting his family here before returning the Islands.

"They are looking forward to proving their loyalty to the United States. They were just as angry as we were about Pearl Harbor."

Europe May Be Goal

Although eventual disposition of the troops, which have been formed as a complete regimental combat team, has not been revealed, it is believed that their fighting will be done in the European theatre.

All of the men are volunteers. All are American citizens. Several of the officers are Japanese-Americans, having received R.O.T.C. training at the University of Hawaii.

"Those of us who have been in close contact with them over a period of time have no doubts as to their loyalty," the captain continued. "They were genuinely hurt by publicity which took a derogatory tone."

In Hawaii Since 1941

Captain Condon, who was graduated from the University of Washington in 1938, volunteered for the Army in February, 1941. He has been stationed in Hawaii since June of that year. Both he and his wife, the former Jean Shoemaker of Davenport, Lincoln County, were in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Prior to the war, Captain Condon was assistant registrar of Whitman College at Walla Walla. His wife, who was evacuated from Hawaii with other Army wives, will accompany Captain Condon as far as San Francisco on his return trip.