Newsstand: 25¢ $1.50 postpaid (U.S., Can.) / $2.30 (Japan Air) #29921 Vol. 136, No.9 ISSN: 0030-8579 National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) MAY 16-JUNE 5, 2003 California .Considers· Legislation Ni ei WWII Broadcasters s Officially Denouncing Rep. Coble o ' Tell their Story in 'Calling T kyo By. CAROLINE AOYAGI week. "They were not there to Executive Editor protect us ... our due process was violated," he said. With little movement in the "[Coble] doesn't understand the Republican Party and the White history of this country ... he does­ House to condemn remarks made n't appreciate it," said Carol Liu, by Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., D-Pasadena, who is also a sponsor endorsing the World War II intern­ of AJR 30. "He was way out of ment of Japanese Americans, line and he needs to apologize." members of the Califomia State Also sponsoring AJR 30 are: Legislature are taking it upon Assembly members Wilma Chan, themselves to repudiate the long­ D-Alameda; Judy Chu, D­ time congressman. Monterey Park; and Leland Yee, PHOTO: MARTHA NAKAGAWA In a unanimous vote of 7 -0 M<ly D-San Francisco. The principal 8 the Assembly Rules Committee coauthor in the state Senate is John From lor: Co-Producer Gary T. Ono; Frank Shozo Saba (OWl); Gish Takeshi Endo (SPWM); Chiyo Nao passed Assembly Joint Resolution Vasconcellos, D-San Jose. Wada (OWl); Robert Tetsuro Yamasaki (OWl); Kei Kitsuta; Robert Goodman, former Armed Forces 30. AJR 30 condemns Coble's The original version of AJR 30 Ohio State University. Radio announcer; and Dr. Allison Gilmore, associate professor of history at remarks as "insulting, inflamma­ had asked that House Speaker tory, and inaccurate," seeks an Dennis Hastett, R-Il!., remove the By MARTHA NAKAGAWA as part of a Joint Anglo American their families. "I think without Assistant Editor official �pology, and encourages congressman from the subcom­ Plan of Propaganda, worked with this revelation, this documen­ him to resign as chairman of the the BPWM to produceshort-wave mittee chair position if Coble tary, I don't think anybody House Judiciary Subcommittee on refused to resign, and sought a During World War II, the U.S. radio broadcasts in Japanese. Both would know what happened," Crime, Terrorism and Homeland governmentrecruited a group of OWl and the BPWN broadcast statement from President Bush said Endo. SecUlity. Nisei to work as radio broadcast­ out of Denver radio station KFEL. Endo is the only surviving repudiating Coble's remarks, but The legislation also encourages both were sttiken from the text ers to wage psychological war­ Because their work was consid­ member of the four BPWM Coble's home state of North fare against Japan. after some Republican members ered top secret, some never told Nisei broadcasters. He worked Carolina to follow California's A documentary titled, "Calling with Ono's father, the late Sam expressed their concern. Tokyo," which highlights these example in condemning the repre­ Although both Nakano and Liu Masami Ono, who passed away sentative. AJR 30 is now sched­ Nisei broadcasters, was screened in 1981 without telling his fami­ are disappointed these pOltions at the Japanese American PortlandAlso uled to go before the Assembly were taken out, they understand ly what he did during the war. floorMay 19. National Museum on May 3, fol­ The other two were: the late that in the political process com­ lowed by a panel discussion with 'Calls Tokyo' George Nakano, D-Torrance, a prises need to be made. Frank Hattori of Seattle and the sponsor of the bill and a former surviving members. By MARTHA NAKAGAWA . "You have to give up a little to late George Yasuo Dote of Los World War II internee, believes it Panelists included: Frank Assistant Editor Angeles. gain something," said Nakano. Shozo Baba, who worked for the is important that the California "We needed the bipattisan sup­ The senior Ono and Dote were State Legislature take action to U.S. Office of War Information While Gary T. Ono's docu­ recruited from the Amache pott." (OWl); Chiyo Nao Wada, OWl; mentary "Calling Tokyo" sheds condemn Coble. "The fact that Interestingly, some of Coble's camp; Endo from Heart [Coble] distorted historic facts Robert Tetsuro Yamasaki, OWl; light on the Nisei broadcasters Mountain. colleagues have been publicly Gish Takeshi Endo with the working out of Denver during makes it dangerous," he said. repudiated by the White House According to Ono, the OWl Nakano was just 6 when he and British Political Warfare Mission World War II, an even lesser team were: Wada, the only and fellow party members forsim ­ (BPWM); Kei Kitsuta, a student known story is that of the contri­ his family were uprooted to the ilar remat"ks but Coble has so far female broadcaster; Baba; Jerome, Ark., camp and later to in Japan during the war who butions of 12 Nisei radio broad­ Yamasaki; Akira George remained untouched. Pro-segrega­ heard the U.S. radio broadcasts; cast translators working out of Tule Lake, Calif. The tower tionist remarks made by Sen. Yoshida; Shiro Uyeno; Yukio guards had their guns pointed Robert Goodman,fo rmer Armed Portland, Ore., during the war. Kawahara; and the late Takehiko Trent Lott, R-Miss., earlier this inward, said Nakano, who plans to Forces Radio announcer; and Dr. Helen Nambara Kaneko, 86, Yoshihashi. Toshiko Miyakawa testify in support of AJR 30 next See COBLE! page 2 Allison Gilmore, a history pro­ and her late sister Hiroko Louis served as secretary. fessor at Ohio State University. Nambara Morioka, were among During the initial stages, The documentary was co-pro­ the firsttwo hired to work out of Chitoshi Yanaga, a history pro­ Nakano Receives Assembly Approval" duced by Gary T. Ono, Janice the Portland office. fessor at the University of Tanaka and Sreescanda Unlike the Office of War California,Berkeley, was also an for 'Blue Star' Designation of Calif. Highway 1 Subramonian, and partiallyfund­ Information (OWl) and the OWl member but was later ed from Ono's redress payment British Political Warfare recruited to teach Japanese at Assembly member George wide movement was started to pay and the CaliforniaCivil Libetties Mission, the Nambara sisters Yale University. Nakano's continued efforts to tribute to the nation's armedforces Public Education Program. honor the nation's veterans was by designating various state and See PORTLANDI page DuringWWII, the U.S. OWl, 6 See BROADCASTERSI page 6 recognized May 12 when the State national routes as a "Blue Star Assembly approved Assembly Memorial Highway." In 1947, the ConcurrentResolution (ACR) 58, California Garden Clubs, Inc. Inside the 2003 JACL NATIONAL which designates California State (CGCI), which now represents YOUTH CONFERENCE Highway 250 garden clubs and plant soci­ Pacific Citizen Route 1 as the eties throughout the state, adopted "Blue Star the program and helps sponsor Spring pa Memorial and coordinate the locations for Cam ign .....2 Highway." memorial signs. "The 'Blue Nakano, who served in the National News ..... 3·4 Star' designa­ Califomia Air National Guard for tion symbol­ Community six years and is a longtime advo­ News ... 5·6 izes the sacri­ cate for veterans, authored legisla­ frces made by those veterans who tion (ACR 115) in 2000 to dedi­ Sports and served before us and is a wonder� cate the104-mile stretch of ful way for us to say thank you to CaliforniaState Highway Route 1 Entertainment ........ 7 those who currently serve," said . throughout Los Angeles County Nakano. as the "Los Angeles County Columns, The "Blue Star Memorial Vietnam Ve terans Memorial Highway" is rooted in the tradition Highway." Cartoon .. .. : .. 8 20-22, 2003 of the Blue Star Flag or War Nakano hosted a moving cere­ June Service Flag, created During mony on July 27, 2001, which Calendar ..........10 Washington University MO World War I, which was hung in dedicated the first sign in St. Louis, homes to symbolize that a mem­ Torrance, complete with tlyovers Obituaries, ber of the family was serying in by the Califol1)ia National Guard 5 the nation's armed forces. ACR 58 and the U.S Coast Guard and cer­ Death Notices .. .. 11 would continue this tradition. emonial music by the 300thArmy WEEKS After World War II, a nation- Marching Band, 63rd RSC .• 2 PACIFIC CITIZEN, MAY 16-JUNE 5. 2003 .�acifIO SPRING CAMPAIGN ' r citizen 7 Cupania Circle, Our Lifeline to the Comm'unity Monterey Park, CA 91755 Tel: 323n25-0083, 800/966- By VALERIE YA SUKOCHI articles in the P.e. keeps us updat­ able working conditions. and young professionals. The P. e. 6157, Fax: 323n25-0064 NCWNPD P.C EditorialRep. ed on issues about and affecting_ This dynamic, yet underpaid is a wonderful avenue through E-mail: [email protected] Japanese Americans and Asian staff deserves the raise they which to share their stOlies, ideas I believe in the Pacific Citizen! Pacific Americans across the haven't received in over three and opinions. I encourage our Executive Editor: Please support the Spring Caroline Aoyagi nation. The P. e. is the crown jewel years, but you don't hear them young people to submit letters to Y. Campaign with a generous donation of JACL and we depend on it to complaining. The three full-timers the editor, and for budding youth Assistant Editor: towards its continuous o�ration. Martha Nakag�wa get the word out, especially to and two part-timers miraculously writers, get in touch with P. e. Office Manager: Brian Tanaka As a new member to the P. e. those outside of Califomia. I feel pull together a well-respected 12- Executive Editor Carolin'e Aoyagi Production Assistant: editorial board, I wasn't surewhat the survival of JACL is partly page publication (plus exceptional (e-mail: [email protected]).