by Nancy Hirabayashi as told to Jonathan Hirabayashi
“…he was separated from his family and transferred to Gila River Internment Center in Arizona.”
In the courtyard at Topaz Relocation Center in Utah, the Scouts were in formation and stood at attention during the raising of the American flag. That day there was a moderate desert wind blowing, and as the flag was being raised, it broke loose from its moorings and began to float toward the ground. One Scout broke ranks and ran after it, managing to catch the flag before it touched the ground.
That Scout was Irvin Hirabayashi. He and his younger brother, Robert, were the sons of Kenichi and Koshizu Hirabayashi of San Mateo, California. Both boys were enrolled in the Boy Scouts before evacuation and continued their participation in Topaz.
Irvin turned 18 years old in March of 1944, and in May, received a notice for a pre-induction physical for the draft. During the induction process, he answered “No” and “No” to questions 27 (Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the US on combat duty?) and 28 (Do you forswear allegiance to the Emperor of Japan?) on the loyalty questionnaire. As a result, he was separated from his family and transferred to Gila River Internment Center in Arizona.
We may never know the exact reasons why he answered the questionnaire in the way he did, but whatever feelings he had about being asked to serve while his family was detained behind barbed wire, he was not disloyal. During the Korean War, Irvin was again drafted for service duty. This time, he was successfully inducted. He was assigned to duty in Germany, where he completed his service.
About the contributor: Nancy Hirabayashi was born in Cotati, CA in 1939. Her family was relocated to Merced, CA before being sent to Amache, CO. After the War, they returned to the family egg ranch that had been entrusted to the care of a friend. Nancy met her future husband, Irvin, at a Buddhist Church mixer. They married in 1959, moved to South San Francisco, and raised two daughters. Nancy worked for JFC International until retiring at the age of 72.
Copyright 2019, Nancy Hirabayashi. All rights reserved.