Letter: Memorial conflicts with Japanese American community

Implying things weren’t so bad, the various amenities like bedding, food and exercise programs provided at the camp were cited. At least the fact that their freedom was taken away was acknowledged as wrong, but closed in asking why tax money is being used.

The short answer is to acknowledge the injustice inflicted on the innocent Japanese American community.

The Japanese treatment of captured U.S. soldiers was deplorable. Take it from the son of a highly decorated veteran of the Pacific war, I know. That doesn’t excuse the imprisonment and confiscation of property of U.S. citizens with no proof of their disloyalty whatsoever.

I’ll let the words of 95-year-old Japanese American William “Bill” Oshiro, quoted in a Hawaii Tribune Herald interview, better explain why we should honor them. Mr. Oshiro is a veteran of the legendary U.S. Army “Go for Broke” 442nd Regiment, the most highly decorated in U.S. Army history and lost a leg when he stepped on a land mine in Italy fighting the Nazis. “I joined the Army to fight the enemy. I feel proud because I fought for my country.”

John Dillon

San Bruno