Department of the Interior
War Relocation Authority
201 Sheldon Building
461 Market Street
San Francisco 5, California

November 23, 1944

PERTINENT FACTS
ABOUT RELOCATION CENTERS
AND
AMEIRCANS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY

14TH AMENDMENT: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States; nor shall any State privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

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Two-thirds of the people of Japanese descent who were evacuated to relocation centers wore American citizens -- 72,000 citizens in all.

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Approximately 72 per cent of the American citizens in relocation centers have never visited Japan.

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The relocation centers are NOT concentration or internment camps. Residents of the centers are NOT internees. They are dislocated people charged with no crime, but detained temporarily because of the necessities of war.

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Relocation center residents are subject to the same rationing restrictions which apply to other civilians. Meatless days are observed twice a week. Actual cost of food has averaged less than 40 cents per person per day.

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Such typically American organizations as the USO, the Red Cross, the PTA, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, YMCA, YWCA and others are carried over into relocation centers by the evacuees.

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While the majority of the alien residents of relocation centers are Buddhists, almost one half of their American-born children belong to various Christian churches. A survey discloses that 50 per cent of the centers' population are Buddhists, 30 per cent Christian, and 4-10ths of 1 per cent are Shinto. The remaining percentage declined to state any religious attitude.

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War Bond, Red Cross, War Chest and similar drives are carried on by residents of relocation centers. In many cases the centers have greatly exceeded the established quotas.

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The National Director of Interracial Activities, Boy Scouts of America, stated: "Probably the best Boy Scout work in the entire country is being dong at Heart Mountain" relocation center.

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Shortly after the creation of the War Relocation Authority, the policy was established of permanently resettling loyal American citizens and law abiding aliens outside the Western Military area. Since then, more than 33,000 residents of relocation centers have been resettled into normal American communities, where their manpower has contributed to the war effort in agriculture and industry.

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Nearly 10,000 residents of relocation centers volunteered to help harvest the sugar beet crop in the fall of 1942. They harvested enough beets to produce a year's sugar allowance for 10,000,000 people. Last year more than 5,000 from Relocation Centers assisted in harvesting crops throughout the midwest.

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There are approximately 12,000 young men of Japanese ancestry -- roughly half of them volunteers -- serving in the United States Army. More than half of these are now serving on foreign soil. Nearly half have parents, wives and children, or other close relatives in relocation centers.

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The 100th Infantry Battalion, composed entirely of Americans of Japanese ancestry, has fought throughout the Italian campaign. It is one of the most decorated units in the United States Army. This unit, made up of a total of 1315 men, has received the following decorations:

Over 1,000 Purple Hearts

11 Distinguished Service Crosses

44 Silver Stars

31 Bronze Stars

3 Legion of Merit Decorations

1 War Department Unit Citation for Outstanding Service in Battle

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In presenting the 100th with the War Department Citation, General Mark Clark stated:

"The fortitude and intrepidity displayed by the officers and men of the 100th Infantry Battalion reflect the finest traditions of the Army of the United States".

Since June 26, 1944, the 100th Infantry Battalion has been incorporated into the 442nd Combat Team, made up entirely of Japanese-Americans who received their training at Camp Shelby, Miss. The 442nd was organized in the spring of 1943 with volunteers from Hawaii and the continental United States, including approximately 1,200 from war relocation centers. The two together now compose a regiment, complete with engineers and artillery and are fighting on the Italian front. By October 1, this now regiment had received 400 Purple Hearts, had liberated 11 towns, and were the first to penetrate into the pivotal city of Pisa.

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By September 1, 1944, after two months or the Italian front, 45 Nisei soldiers had been killed, 92 were wounded and 2 were missing of those who had parents in relocation centers.

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Because of their knowledge of the Japanese language, Nisei soldiers have played vital and dramatic roles in our succession of victories over the Japanese in the Pacific theater of operations.

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Fourteen Nisei soldiers are now serving with Merrill's Marauders in Burma.

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Six Nisei soldiers were cited for meritorious service in Saipan.

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Japanese-American soldiers at Camp Shelby bought $100,000 in war bonds in two days after the announcement of the execution of American flyers in Japan.

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The birth rate of Americans of Japanese ancestry in 1940 was at the same level as the birth rate throughout the country. In California, the census shows that the number of births to Japanese parents dropped from the high of 5,275 in 1921, to 2,220 in 1930 and to 1,479 in 1940. Concerning their birth rate the Tolan Committee's report says:

"Contrary to alarmist predictions about the reproductive tendencies of the American Japanese, their birth rate during the past decade has been insufficient to balance mortality and emigration".

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Reports of sabotage by Japanese residents of Hawaii at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack have been officially denied by W.A. Gabrielson, Honolulu chief of Pacific area, the late Secretary of the Navy Frank C. Knox, Secretary of War Stimson, and Director Hoover of F.B.I.

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