Veterans share story of patriotism amid persecution

Occurring in only 10 U.S. states on a two-year tour, the traveling exhibit Courage and Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American World War II Experience is in Kingsburg, CA, through Feb. 4.

The exhibit is produced by the Go For Broke National Education Center located in Los Angeles, CA. Each of the 10 host areas provides a place where the campaign can showcase their portrayal of the relocation of the Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

After the Go For Broke organization saw an article on one of Kingsburg’s citizens, Bob Yano, they believed there were more stories to be told about the Japanese American involvement at the Kingsburg Historical Society.

“It was my senior year when I had to go to camp,” Yano said. “A lot of people don’t understand that I was born here; I’m a citizen. It was quite upsetting. How can you take someone’s citizenship when you’re born here in America?”

The exhibit shows the involvement of the Japanese Americans in WWII and how many of them, despite being imprisoned in camps, enlisted in the armed services. It also explains Executive Order 9066 and how all people of Japanese descent were ordered off their land to camps where they were incarcerated until 1945.

Part of the display focuses on two branches of service: The 442nd regiment, which was one of the most highly decorated regiments in WWII, and the 100th Infantry Battalion, a segregated unit force unattached to any division for most of the war.

The local coordinator for the exhibition, Dave Meyer, has researched the history of Japanese American involvement for the past year. He enjoys learning about history and takes away important lessons from it.

“If we have to take anything away from this (exhibit) it is the fact that these Japanese American people were American citizens,” Meyer said. “Therefore they were subject to the Constitution of the United States which guarantees them freedom. But with Executive Order 9066, their freedom was taken away. Our rights which we think cannot be taken away, were (taken away) from a certain group of people and if we are not vigilant we could see the same thing happen again.”

Executive Order 9066 authorized the U.S. government to forcibly take anyone from the West Coast deemed a threat to national security. This interpreted to mean all people of Japanese ancestry. Over 110,000 Japanese Americans were forced to pack up their belongings and head to concentration camps.

I’m proud that I served because by serving I have people like you and many, many others that come see (this exhibit). If I didn’t go, this exhibit wouldn’t be here. And I’m sure by this people learn more. To have this in Kingsburg, it’s an honor. I’m proud it’s here. And maybe I had a little part in it. — Bob Yano, WWII veteran 

As a local resident of Kingsburg, 93-year-old Bob Yano was just one of the individuals forced to evacuate to an incarceration camp in Arizona. He registered in the Army at 18 as a 1A, but after his citizenship was taken away, he became a 4C, classified as an “enemy alien”. Nonetheless, he was happy to contribute to his country.

“(I joined the regiment) because I felt like it was part of my duty,” Yano said. “I wanted to show that I am a good American. How do you do that? Well, you have to do something to show you’re proud of your country.”

Bob enlisted in the army along with his brother Max. Max was apart of the Military Intelligence Service, while Bob joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was shipped overseas to Italy and Germany on the Queen Mary. He recalls waiting on the bottom of the boat with his friends and being scared that they could be torpedoed at any second.

The exhibit displayed some of Yano’s items from his experience in war. Steve Goss, a medic from the army, explained the significance of his belongings, including his dog tags, handbooks and a special sash made for him by the women in the camp.

“(The number) 1,000 is supposed to have significance and protect you,” Goss said. “The sash has 1,000 dots and each one was hand sewn. His mother had gone to Japan for vacation and on their way back was when Pearl Harbor was attacked so she was stuck there. The women in camp felt sorry for him and they made the sash and he wore it through the war, essentially protecting him.”

Yano never saw his mother again. After the war ended, he returned to his farm where his father and oldest brother were. Yano earned medals from his journey, however he doesn’t think much about them.

“Experiencing war is something that you have to have faith in leadership and comradeship,” Yano said. “You can’t be individual, you have to depend on your leaders. You have to have harmony.

“I’m proud that I served because by serving I have people like you and many, many others that come see (this exhibit),” Yano continued. “If I didn’t go, this exhibit wouldn’t be here. And I’m sure by this people learn more. To have this in Kingsburg, it’s an honor. I’m proud it’s here. And maybe I had a little part in it.”

Hometown Heros is a weekly radio show hosted by Paul Loeffler that honors men and women whose sacrifices have given us freedom. Loeffler thinks the exhibit perfectly captures how Japanese-Americans persevered through persecution to personify courage and patriotism. He also met Yano and appreciated how he risked his life for the very country that was holding his family behind barbed wire.

“For those of us who didn’t live through World War II, it’s hard to imagine how grave the stakes were for America,” Loeffler said. “The privilege of having this powerful exhibit in the San Joaquin Valley, telling the story of the internment through the lens of his hometown of Kingsburg, is a tribute to his resilient spirit and example of service.”

While his family was kept in internment camps, Yano spent two years fighting for his nation in France, Germany and Italy. Carmen George from The Fresno Bee also visited the exhibit and further explored Yano’s story.

Forced to live behind barbed wire, this Japanese American became a “nobody” in his nation’s eyes. He later became a decorated soldier. A traveling exhibit tells his story https://t.co/cQURbdjD2I via @CarmenGeorge

— Fresno Bee (@FresnoBee) February 1, 2018

The exhibit is open until Feb. 4 at the Kingsburg Historical Park. Hours are 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed Monday and Tuesday; however, those would like to set up a special group tour on Monday or Tuesday, contact Dave Meyer at (559) 410-0480.

For more articles about World War II read Japanese-American internment survivor recalls life during WWII. For more articles read Campus welcomes elementary baseball team.

Kamryn Schultz can be reached via email and Twitter.