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—Thomas L. Stokes?Comment From WashingtonWASHINGTON, Feb. 21. — Life moves on like book of short stories in which the same characters reappear, except that in war the page is swifter, the events more dramatic, the tragedies so much more frequent and poignant.Here in this space, only a week ago. there was related the story of the American Legion post at Hood River, Ore., which had erased the names of sixteen Japanese-Americans, or Nisei as they are called, from its ho., or roll, and how National Commander Edward N. Scheiberling intervened with the post, in -'ain, to recall its action.Now comes the story of one • of the sixteen, Frank T. Hachiya,25, of Portland, Ore., who died a hero’s death after a dangerou-mission for which he volunteered at Leyte.It was one of those sharp cameos of war. The regiment was in a difficult position. In-: formation of the disposition of | the enemy was needed. Hachiya volunteered to lead a patrol across a valley swept by Japanese fire. He got out ahead of | ie patrol. A Jap snij:r shot him through the stomach. He was able to make his way back up the hill. But the bullet had passed through his liver. He died on the operating table.What the American boys who served with him thought of him is shown by the fact that nearly everybody in the regiment volunteered to give blood transfusions to try to save his life.Will his name go back on the honor roll?In this same place, too, only a week ago, was told the story of the disabled American veterans post at He rm is ton, Ore., which had voted against admission of Japanese-American c Negroes veterans to membership.Now comes the copy of a letter which an American aviator, a first lieutenant, has sent tQ that post, from which the following Ls quoted:“I read m the morning paper where you had recently voted ‘never to allow a Japanese or a colored veteran' to become members of your post.“It is mpossible for me to convey to you the great dismay that seeing this caused me.“I have just returned from a tour of combat duty as a navigator on a B-24 with the 15th air force and am fully aware of the great esteem in which the colored fighter pilots are heldby the bomber boys they cover.Are they fighting for the con-t in u a n c e of discrimination against themselves?“Infantrymen returning on the same boat with told me of the fine record established by the Japanese-American troops of the 5th army. These white me.i to whom I spoke had only great admiration for thes- ‘Japs’ who had evidently carried far more than their share of the battle.“Consider, gentlemen, what many such things as you are doing would mean..He referred then to other Incidents of discrimination against Japanese - Ameiicans reported here a week ago.“Read and reflect on this. Other references suggested are the Bible and the American constitution.“Please do not consider this as a mischievous paper but rather a letter from a man genuinely concerned with what he considers to be an un-American % trend and one detrimental to thctfk interests of our country.”Such tolerance is typical among servicemen who have fought side by side with Americans of ther races.Tolerant, too, are communications which have some from civilians in this country*They reflect the view that this country is a haven for refugees from other lands, that it has always bee.i so, and that once they become citizens, they are due the protection of our laws which are a guarantee of our democratic tradition. They also point out. quite aptly, that we all stem back lo “Aliens.”Chinese Being Taught WarfareCHUNGKING. Feb. 20 UP)—U.S. army forces in China are engaged m the largest military education program of its kind in the world, designed to increase the combat efficiency of Chinese forces, healt;^^quarters of the Chinese trainit^p center in Yunnan protnnce am * nounced today.The conclusion of the Salween river campaign and the opening of lt;the Stillwell road are among the factors permitting launching of this ambitious program. 4All ranks of Chinese, from private to general, “will have the opportunity lo learn modem Amer- *ican military methods and doctrines, the announcement said. .
Newspaper Details
Reno Evening Gazette
Reno, Nevada, US
Wed, Feb 21, 1945
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 30 Sep 2018
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