The Atlantic Out Loud The Expatriate
Jul 11, 2025
Explore the emotional fallout of evacuation from Terminal Island after Pearl Harbor, shedding light on the personal and collective trauma of wartime America. Discover the injustices of Executive Order 9066 and the bravery of Japanese Americans, who served in military roles despite facing systemic racism. Delve into the complex struggles of identity and loyalty, revealing the harsh realities for a Japanese-American soldier amid discrimination. Uncover the challenges of internment and the legacy left behind, highlighted by the Manzanar Uprising.
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Kurihara's Terminal Island Evacuation
- Joseph Kurihara witnessed furniture piling on Terminal Island as Japanese Americans were forcibly evacuated in 1942.
- He questioned how America, which preaches democracy, could treat its citizens with such injustice.
Racial Distrust Fueled Incarceration
- Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt branded all people of Japanese ancestry as racially untrustworthy.
- This rationale justified incarcerating over 125,000 Japanese Americans, regardless of their citizenship or loyalty.
Kurihara's Radical Disillusionment
- Kurihara, denied faith by America, embraced a radical stance and openly accepted violence.
- His disillusionment stemmed from a country that accused him of disloyalty despite his service.