Kristen Hayashi

And I think that sort of leads into just what it took, you know, for Japanese Americans to restart their lives after the war and how difficult it was.

And I think that sort of leads into just what it took, you know, for Japanese Americans to restart their lives after the war and how difficult it was.

And I think that sort of leads into just what it took, you know, for Japanese Americans to restart their lives after the war and how difficult it was.

The remarkable thing, Kristen, is that during the war, even during this period of incarceration, Nisei youth are recruited for war service, something that many did, right?

The remarkable thing, Kristen, is that during the war, even during this period of incarceration, Nisei youth are recruited for war service, something that many did, right?

The remarkable thing, Kristen, is that during the war, even during this period of incarceration, Nisei youth are recruited for war service, something that many did, right?

Right. So in 1943, the U.S. Army and government decides that they're going to create a segregated unit for Japanese-American, so Nisei soldiers, called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, as like an opportunity for Japanese-Americans to prove their loyalty and patriotism through military service. And so they first called for volunteers out of the camps.

Right. So in 1943, the U.S. Army and government decides that they're going to create a segregated unit for Japanese-American, so Nisei soldiers, called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, as like an opportunity for Japanese-Americans to prove their loyalty and patriotism through military service. And so they first called for volunteers out of the camps.

Right. So in 1943, the U.S. Army and government decides that they're going to create a segregated unit for Japanese-American, so Nisei soldiers, called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, as like an opportunity for Japanese-Americans to prove their loyalty and patriotism through military service. And so they first called for volunteers out of the camps.

And, you know, maybe not surprisingly, there really weren't that many who volunteered outside of America's concentration camps. I did have a great uncle who volunteered, but he was, you know, sort of in the minority. And then, you know, later they impose a draft out of the camps. And, you know, this caused, I think, a lot of conflict for Japanese American, like for Nisei.

And, you know, maybe not surprisingly, there really weren't that many who volunteered outside of America's concentration camps. I did have a great uncle who volunteered, but he was, you know, sort of in the minority. And then, you know, later they impose a draft out of the camps. And, you know, this caused, I think, a lot of conflict for Japanese American, like for Nisei.

And, you know, maybe not surprisingly, there really weren't that many who volunteered outside of America's concentration camps. I did have a great uncle who volunteered, but he was, you know, sort of in the minority. And then, you know, later they impose a draft out of the camps. And, you know, this caused, I think, a lot of conflict for Japanese American, like for Nisei.

And, you know, while many did comply with the draft and served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, I think there's a lesser known story about a group at the Heart Mountain concentration camp called the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. So this is a group of 63 young men who had a platform that said essentially, like, we're willing to serve in the U.S. Army if you let our families go.

And, you know, while many did comply with the draft and served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, I think there's a lesser known story about a group at the Heart Mountain concentration camp called the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. So this is a group of 63 young men who had a platform that said essentially, like, we're willing to serve in the U.S. Army if you let our families go.

And, you know, while many did comply with the draft and served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, I think there's a lesser known story about a group at the Heart Mountain concentration camp called the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. So this is a group of 63 young men who had a platform that said essentially, like, we're willing to serve in the U.S. Army if you let our families go.

And they were indicted for evading the draft. They were put on trial. It was the largest trial in all of Wyoming's history. And they didn't get a trial by jury. A judge presided over their trial. And they knew they weren't going to get a fair trial because the judge greeted them as JAP boys. But they were convicted of evading the draft. And the older boys were sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary.

And they were indicted for evading the draft. They were put on trial. It was the largest trial in all of Wyoming's history. And they didn't get a trial by jury. A judge presided over their trial. And they knew they weren't going to get a fair trial because the judge greeted them as JAP boys. But they were convicted of evading the draft. And the older boys were sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary.

And they were indicted for evading the draft. They were put on trial. It was the largest trial in all of Wyoming's history. And they didn't get a trial by jury. A judge presided over their trial. And they knew they weren't going to get a fair trial because the judge greeted them as JAP boys. But they were convicted of evading the draft. And the older boys were sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary.

And the younger ones were sent to McNeil Island Penitentiary in Washington State. And they served three-year terms for evading the draft. So they were incarcerated longer than their families were. And, you know, I think that story has been, is lesser known. And even within the Japanese American community, there is a stigma against the draft resistors.

And the younger ones were sent to McNeil Island Penitentiary in Washington State. And they served three-year terms for evading the draft. So they were incarcerated longer than their families were. And, you know, I think that story has been, is lesser known. And even within the Japanese American community, there is a stigma against the draft resistors.