Letters to the Editor
Pacific Citizen, June 7-20, 2002 

Apology Not Representative
by Jun Shiosaki

After reading George Shiozawa's letter, I decided to write about the recent apology. I trained with George's brother, Roy R. Shiozawa, at Co. B, 232nd Battallion, in Camp Blanding, Fl. We were friends and buddies. We both ended up as replacements for Co. , 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd RCT. Roy was killed in the North Apennines, Po Valley campaign in Italy.

I cannot see a need for surviving relatives, or veterans of the MIS, 442 RCT, 8th Air Force or any other veteran of World War II who is a member of JACL to apologize to the "resisters of conscience." If the men who volunteered to fight and die, as many did, had been resisters, would we still enjoy the status of a minority who fought prejudice to prove our loyalty and won, as President Harry Truman told the 442nd upon its parade in Washington, D.C.? Or would we be considered the four-letter word beginning with "J" as we were called during WWII?

Roy R. Shiozawa was killed in the service of the United States; The "resisters of conscience" lived. We have a monument in Pocatello, Idaho, to seven members of the 442nd RCT killed in action; most were JACLers.

I think the time has come for reconciliation. I believe it should be a symbolic handshake across the table, like, you did your thing, we did ours. The apology being made does not represent many of us.

Jun Shiosaki
Blackfoot, Idaho

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Updated: June 7, 2002