by Jon Yatabe
In 1943, two major events happened in Topaz. First, the U.S. Army came to announce that an all-Nisei Combat Team was being assembled and that all Nisei males over 18 were eligible to volunteer. Soon registration of adult residents would begin. The announcement was met with little enthusiasm.
In order to register, residents would have to answer a “loyalty questionnaire.” There were two key questions:
- Are you willing to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?
- Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America… and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese Emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organization?
These two questions caused a turmoil in the camps. There was a block meeting to discuss the registration. As Block Councilman, my father, Tak Yatabe, explained that every adult would have to register on the appointed day, responding to all the questions. Since many of the older generation spoke little English, he had a friend explain the requirements in Japanese to be sure the requirements were understood by everyone. He understood the concerns of the Issei, who were asked to forswear allegiance to any foreign country when they were not eligible for US citizenship.