Lesson 5: The Question of Loyalty

Lesson 5: The Question of Loyalty

Organizing Questions

What may have been the motives behind a Japanese American's decision to join or not to join the U.S. military?
How did this decision impact relations within the Japanese American community?

Introduction

In this lesson, students examine perspectives of Japanese Americans who either served or refused to serve in the military during World War II. It is suggested that at least one activity from Activities 5-1 and 5-2 be taught as well as one activity from Activities 5-3 and 5-4.

Objectives

knowledge

to learn about the experiences of Japanese American soldiers during World War II
to learn about the experiences of Japanese Americans who refused to serve in the military

attitude

to appreciate the difficult decision faced by Japanese Americans regarding whether or not to serve in the military

skill

to work effectively in small groups
to critically analyze primary source documents, photographs, film, and personal experiences

Reading: The Question of Loyalty

Before beginning the activities in this lesson, discuss The Question of Loyalty with the following questions:

What may have been the motives behind a Japanese American's decision to join or not to join the military?
What may account for the fact that there were more Japanese American military volunteers from Hawaii than from the mainland?
What were the dangers of a segregated military unit? What may have been the benefits (if any)?
Why do you think thousands of nisei at Tule Lake applied for a renunciation of their citizenship?
Why do you think some in the Japanese American community condemned the efforts of the Fair Play Committee?

Activities

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

Students analyze autobiographies and letters of Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. Army in Europe.

Activity 5-2: Perspectives of the Military Intelligence Service Through an Autobiography

Students analyze an autobiography of a Military Intelligence Service veteran who served in the Pacific War.

Activity 5-3: Perspectives of Resisters Through Editorials

Students analyze perspectives of Japanese Americans known as "draft resisters of conscience," who refused to join the military as long as they believed that their rights as citizens continued to be violated.

Activity 5-4: Perspective of a "No-No Boy" From a Novel Excerpt

Students analyze a novel depicting perspectives of a Japanese American who answered "no" to specific questions on a questionnaire that tested his "loyalty" to the United States.