Activity 5-1

Activity 5-1: Perspectives of Japanese American Soldiers Through Autobiographies and Letters

Introduction

In this activity, students are introduced to Japanese American soldiers who fought in Europe. They were soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Time

Two class periods

Materials

Handout 5-1a: Retirement Speech by Dr. John Sadanaga (enough copies for half the class)
Handout 5-1b: Shig Doi's Story (enough copies for half the class)
Handout 5-1c: Letters and Photographs (one copy per pair)

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of Activity 5-1 handouts

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of lesson page and activity procedures

Procedure

1. Download and print the PDF file of Activity 5-1 handouts. Make copies as indicated above.

2. Remind students that many Japanese Americans volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army in Europe. Two of these men were Dr. John Sadanaga and Shig Doi.

3. Distribute handout 5-1a: Retirement Speech by Dr. John Sadanaga, to half of the class and handout 5-1b: Shig Doi's Story, to the other half. Allow time for students to read the handouts. Note that Dr. Sadanaga uses the term "internment camp(s)" to refer to incarceration camps, as defined in this curriculum.

4. Have students form pairs. Each pair should include one student who read the Retirement Speech by Dr. John Sadanaga and one who read Shig Doi's Story.

5. Distribute handout 5-1c: Letters and Photographs, to each pair of students. Point out that these are letters that were sent to the mother of a deceased Japanese American soldier. Ask students to discuss the letters and photographs. Each pair should create a poster that commemorates the accomplishments of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The poster should incorporate information provided by John Sadanaga and Shig Doi--for example, awards and honors, battles fought, motto, as well as the letters and photographs.

Optional Activities

6. If time allows, have students engage in one of the following:

Interview someone who has engaged in military combat. Write a report on the interview.
Draw a picture of one of the battles Shig Doi describes.
Use a map of Europe to plot the battles described in both Shig Doi's and John Sadanaga's accounts. Give a presentation to the class explaining what the 442nd did in these areas and why they were sent there.
Create a recruitment poster to be displayed in the incarceration camps, urging the nisei to join the army and fight in Europe.