THE 1800TH ENGINEER GENERAL SERVICE BATTALION

by Cedrick Shimo

@ Peabody Hotel

Sept. 25, 2004 

One of nine 10 to 11:15 a.m. breakout sessions on different topics

( 9 different sessions at 1 p.m. and 9 more at 2:30 p.m.) 

“LIFE INTERRUPTED”

Camp Connections: A Conversation about Civil Rights and Social Justice in Arkansas

September 23-26, 2004
Conference and exhibits at Little Rock, Arkansas

University of Arkansas & Japanese American National Museum


“MILITARY EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT FORMS”

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“MILITARY EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT FORMS” -- THE TITLE OF THIS PANEL DISCUSSION IS MOST APPROPRIATE IN DESCRIBING THE BATTALION IN WHICH I SERVED. OURS WAS NOT AS HEROIC (“or as well known” – was taken out because both the moderator and MIS speaker mentioned that the MIS operation was kept a secret until only recently) AS THE 442ND COMBAT REGIMENT OR THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE -- THE M.I.S. 

BUT FIRST, LET ME LAY THE BACKGROUND ON HOW AND WHY I WAS FORCED TO SERVE FOR OVER TWO YEARS IN THE 1800TH ENGINEER GENERAL SERVICE BATTALION – A MOST UNUSUAL MILITARY UNIT. 

WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS STRUCK THERE WERE SOME 5000 JAPANESE AMERICANS ALREADY SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. MOST WERE IMMEDIATELY DISCHARGED AND RECLASSIFIED AS 4-C ENEMY ALIENS. 1400 REMAINED BUT THEIR WEAPONS WERE REMOVED. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHILE THE MAJORITY WAS BEING EXPELLED FROM THE ARMY, A LARGE CONTINGENT OF NISEI WAS BEING DRAFTED. I WAS ONE OF THEM.

BY SHEER COINCIDENCE I RECEIVED MY DRAFT NOTICE ON DECEMBER 8TH, 1941, THE DAY AFTER PEARL HARBOR WHEN I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY. I WENT TO THE TRAIN DEPOT TO RETURN TO LOS ANGELES BUT WAS DENIED PASSAGE BECAUSE I LOOKED JAPANESE. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO HITCHHIKE BACK TO L.A. IN ORDER TO REPORT TO MY DRAFT BOARD. THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION THAT LOOKING LIKE THE ENEMY WOULD BRING ABOUT DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FELLOW AMERICANS WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.

SINCE THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE 10 TO 12 MINUTE TIME LIMIT I’M GOING TO SPEAK AT A FASTER CLIP SO HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS! (Here, the moderator, Dr. Odo from the Smithsonian who had previously read my speech, interrupted and sez to forget the time limit. So I continued to mix the pace and able to put in some “dramatic” pauses to emphasize certain important points)

DURING BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS, MY MOTHER INFORMED ME THAT MY FATHER, WHO WAS NOT PICKED UP IN THE ORIGINAL FBI SWEEP, WAS APPREHENDED AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ENEMY ALIEN BECAUSE HE OPERATED A JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS FENCING SCHOOL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I LEARNED ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 THAT DECREED THAT MY MOTHER AND FRIENDS WOULD SOON BE EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMES. AFTER COMPLETING BASIC I RETURNED TO L.A. ON A FURLOUGH TO VISIT MY MOTHER WHO WAS ALONE AND FRANTICALLY IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING ALL OF OUR FAMILY POSSESSIONS.

WHILE IN L.A., I WITNESSED WOMEN, CHILDREN AND A FEW MEN FROM THE FISHING VILLAGE OF TERMINAL ISLAND LIVING IN OUR JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL. ALL THE FISHERMEN AND LEADERS OF THAT COMMUNITY WERE ROUNDED UP THE DAY AFTER PEARL HARBOR. LATER, THE REST WERE GIVEN 48 HOURS TO GET OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE NAVAL BASE. THIS FISHING VILLAGE HAD ITS ORIGIN AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, LONG BEFORE THE NAVY ESTABLISHED ITS BASE. THOUSANDS OF TERMINAL ISLANDERS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT L.A. – HAVING LOST EVERYTHING. SOON AFTER, THEY WERE AGAIN OUSTED, THIS TIME WITH OTHER JAPANESE, TO THE SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK ASSEMBLY CENTER, AND A FEW MONTHS LATER TO MANZANAR. THERE, THOSE WHO HAD RAISED THEIR VOICES IN PROTEST WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE TULE LAKE SEGREGATION CAMP FOR THE SO CALLED DISLOYALS. MANY HAD SONS IN THE ARMY WHO ANGRILY PROTESTED THE MISTREATMENT OF THEIR FAMILIES. THEY WERE LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE 1800TH ENGINEERS.

AFTER BASIC I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE STATION HOSPITAL AT CAMP GRANT. ABOUT THIS TIME MAJOR DICKEY FROM THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CAME SEEKING NISEI WHO WERE BI-LINGUAL. SEVERAL OF MY NISEI FRIENDS AND I VOLUNTEERED AND WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL AT CAMP SAVAGE IN MINNESOTA. ALSO, IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE MASS EXPULSION OF THE JAPANESE AMERICANS FROM THE MILITARY ZONE OF THE WEST COAST WAS TAKING PLACE. MY MOTHER WAS SENT TO THE MANZANAR CONCENTRATION CAMP IN CALIFORNIA WHILE MY FATHER REMAINED IN AN ENEMY ALIEN INTERNMENT CAMP IN BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA. REPORTS ALSO WERE FILTERING IN ABOUT THE HARSH LIVING CONDITIONS IN ALL THE CAMPS DURING THOSE FIRST WINTER MONTHS.

THIS DEPRESSING NEWS HAD US SEETHING WITH ANGER, BUT WE CONTINUED TO STUDY HARD WHILE “BITCHING” AMONG OURSELVES ABOUT THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR FAMILIES. (During the question and answer period I went into details about how the cadres at that time called us “inus”{dogs or traitors} for volunteering while our families were being imprisoned. Cadres are the soldiers who run the camps – supplies, mess hall, administration etc. I had several friends among the cadres who told me that their attitude later changed with the success of the 442nd.) WHEN FURLOUGHS WERE PROMISED, I APPLIED FOR MANZANAR TO SEE MY MOTHER AND FRIENDS BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED FOR OVERSEAS DUTY. INCREDIBLY MY REQUEST WAS DENIED BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, NO NISEI, NOT EVEN SOLDIERS, WERE ALLOWED ON THE WEST COAST. THIS RESTRICTION WAS LATER RESCINDED, BUT FOR ME IT WAS TOO LATE BECAUSE I, ALONG WITH OTHER FURIOUS STUDENTS, HAD ALREADY BLOWN MY STACK TO THE AUTHORITIES. (During the question and answer period, the moderator wanted to know how I “blew my stack.” I had fun with this one but since it was another speech in itself I won’t repeat it here)

CONSEQUENTLY, 20 OF US WERE EXPELLED FROM THE SCHOOL AND EVENTUALLY BANISHED TO THE 1800TH ENGINEER GENERAL SERVICE BATTALION – A SPECIAL UNIT COMPRISED OF ALLEGED “TROUBLE MAKERS” MADE UP OF GERMAN, ITALIAN AND JAPANESE ANCESTRY WHOM THE ARMY WANTED TO KEEP UNDER OBSERVATION. EVERY SOLDER WAS REDUCED TO THE RANK OF PRIVATE AND INELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTIONS DESPITE HOLDING POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITIES. (From pick & shovel I also served at one time or another as the acting motor pool sergeant, acting supply sergeant, and company interpreter. But I spent most of my time as the acting company clerk where I was able to interact with all of the Caucasian officers and non-coms on a daily basis. I have some most interesting tales that perhaps some day I would like to talk about.)

OTHER NISEI WERE EXILED TO THE 1800TH FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE SOLDIERS WHOSE FAMILIES WERE EXPELLED FROM TERMINAL ISLAND.

STILL OTHERS WERE THOSE FROM FORT McCLELLAN IN ALABAMA WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MOST HUMILIATING INCIDENT AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS. WHEN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT VISITED FORT RILEY, ALL THE NISEI SOLDIERS WERE HERDED INTO AN AIRPLANE HANGER UNDER GUNPOINT. OUTSIDE, MACHINE GUNS AND TANKS SURROUNDED THE HANGER. THEY WERE ORDERED TO REMAIN SILENT AND TO LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD – FOR FOUR HOURS UNTIL THE PRESIDENT LEFT THE FORT. 

AT FORT McCLELLAN, MANY OF THE NISEI SOLDIERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS FORT RILEY HUMILIATION STRONGLY PROTESTED TO BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE 442 INFANTRY FOR COMBAT TRAINING. TWENTY EIGHT WERE COURT MARTIALED AND IMPRISONED. SEVENTY EIGHT WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE 1800TH ENGINEERS.

I WAS ONCE INTERVIEWED BY AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO ASKED WHICH SIDE I WOULD FIGHT FOR IF JAPAN INVADED THE UNITED STATES. MY ANSWER WAS THAT EVERYTHING DEAR TO ME, ALL THAT I HAVE LEFT, IS IN THE CAMPS SO I WOULD FIGHT FOR WHICHEVER SIDE DEFENDED THEM. (I was surprised at the laughter and nodding heads when I said this! Received favorable comments after the speech). I ASKED, “WOULD THE GUARDS BE DEFENDING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR WOULD THEY BE MACHINE GUNNING THEM?"

THERE IS A MISTAKEN IMAGE THAT WE WERE A GROUP OF AGITATING MISFITS, BUT THESE ARE THE FACTS. FIRST, DESPITE OUR MENTAL RESERVATIONS, SUCH AS MY ANSWER TO THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, WE REMAINED GOOD, DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS TO THE VERY END. I HAVE MY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS PROOF.

THE MISSION OF THE 1800TH WAS TO FOLLOW THE 3RD ARMY COMBAT TROOPS ON TRAINING MANEUVERS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES – TO REPAIR ROADS, BRIDGES AND FENCES DAMAGED BY TANKS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. 

YOUR STATE OF ARKANSAS REMAINS CLOSE TO MY HEART BECAUSE OF MEMORIES OF 1945 WHEN THE WHITE RIVER FLOODED TO RECORD HIGHS. THE 1800TH WAS CALLED UPON IN THIS EMERGENCY TO HELP COMBAT THE FLOOD THAT SUDDENLY REACHED SUCH HEIGHTS THAT OUR ENTIRE BATTALION WAS MAROONED ON AN ARKANSAS BLUFF CALLED PEACH ORCHARD. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAD TO SEND STEAMBOATS TO RESCUE US. THEREAFTER, WE OPERATED OUT OF RIVER BOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

I RECORDED THE ENTIRE 2-MONTH EPISODE IN A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS -- SOME OF WHICH MAY BE ON EXHIBIT INCLUDING A FULL PAGE CITATION FROM GENERALS G.M. HALLORAN AND M.C. TYLER WHICH WAS POSTED FOR A FULL WEEK TO BE READ BY ALL PERSONNEL AT CAMP SHELBY.

OUR MORALE WAS VERY HIGH BECAUSE OUR CAUCASIAN OFFICERS AND NON-COMS FAMILIAR WITH OUR PLIGHT WERE QUITE SYMPATHETIC AND TREATED US WITH RESPECT. THE RESULT WAS OVER TWO YEARS (I added this 2 years…) OF EXCELLENT WORK PERFORMANCE FOR WHICH WE WERE COMMENDED.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CAMPS, AS WE WERE TOILING IN THE MILITARY, THERE WAS MUCH DISCORD WHERE THE INMATES WERE FORCED TO MAKE AGONIZING DECISIONS THAT DIVIDED MANY FAMILIES as depicted last night in the documentary film, Time of Fear. WE IN THE 1800TH CAN BE LIKENED TO THOSE IN THE CAMPS WHO HAD RAISED THEIR VOICES IN PROTEST -- THOSE SO-CALLED TROUBLE MAKERS WHO WERE REMOVED TO ISOLATION CAMPS. 

WHEN THE DRAFT WAS RE-INSTITUTED, OVER 300 DRAFTEES FROM THE VARIOUS CAMPS RESISTED BY DEMANDING THAT THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS MUST FIRST BE RESTORED. MOST WERE TRIED, CONVICTED AND IMPRISONED. AFTER THE WAR THEY WERE ALL PARDONED BY PRESIDENT TRUMAN. (Activist Yuri Kochiyama, in an afternoon breakout session, devoted much of her talk to praising the No-Nos, the draft resistors and the 1800th. I had met with her the previous evening as she wanted to know more details on the Ft. Riley/McClellan incident and about the 1800th)

IN CONTRAST 1200 NISEI, DESPITE THE NEGATIVE SENTIMENTS IN THE CAMPS, VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY WHILE THOUSANDS MORE SERVED AS DRAFTEES. AN INTERESTING COMPARISON IS THAT 10,000 NISEI VOLUNTEERED FROM HAWAII WHERE THERE WAS NO MASS EXPULSION. 

I CLOSE BY STATING THAT IF ALL THE JAPANESE AMERICANS HAD TAKEN OUR STAND OF PROTEST OR RESISTANCE, WE MIGHT STILL BE LANGUISHING IN THE, QUOTE “RESERVATIONS.” IT WAS THE COURAGE AND BRAVERY OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE 442ND AND THE M.I.S. THAT HELPED SAVE THE JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY FROM EXPERIENCING THE FATE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS. THANKS TO THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS, GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA COVERAGE CHANGED FROM ONE OF CONDEMNATION TO ONE OF COMMENDATION. OUR FUTURE IN THE UNITED STATES SUDDENLY IMPROVED FROM ONE OF UTTER DESPAIR TO ONE OF HOPE.

MANY HAVE SINCE ASKED, “WHY WERE YOU PEOPLE SO DOCILE AND DID NOT FIGHT BACK?” YOU HAVE LEARNED TODAY THAT HUNDREDS IN THE ARMY AND TENS OF THOUSANDS IN THE CAMPS, FACED WITH A NO-WIN SITUATION, DID CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT BY VARIOUS METHODS RESULTING IN UNTOLD ANGUISH.

ONE OF THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF THIS EPISODE WAS THE EXTREMELY DIVISIVE BREAKUP WITHIN THE JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS VERY DAY – A FEW ULTRA PATRIOTIC STUBBORN VETERANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS AT ONE END, AND A FEW EQUALLY STUBBORN RESISTERS AND PROTESTERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS AT THE OTHER END. ONE SUPPORTED A GOVERNMENT THAT TRAMPLED THE CONSTITUTION AND BECAME HEROES WHILE THE OTHER PROTESTED OR RESISTED AND WERE DISCREDITED. THEN, THERE WAS THE VAST MIDDLE MAJORITY WITH EMPATHY FOR BOTH VIEWS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT TO GLORIFY A FEW AND DISCREDIT OTHERS, BUT TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO BRAVELY ENDURED THOSE AGONIZING YEARS. EACH, IN HIS OWN WAY, FOUGHT FOR THE VERY PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED – HUMAN RIGHTS, DIGNITY, FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. INCLUDED WOULD BE THE MILITARY HEROES, OF COURSE; BUT ALSO THOSE WHO DEFIED THE EVACUATION ORDERS IN COURT; THE JACL LEADERS WHO URGED COOPERATION DESPITE THE NEGATIVE SENTIMENTS AGAINST THEM; THOSE CAMP AND ARMY RESISTERS WHO WERE IMPRISONED; THOSE ARMY PROTESTORS WHO WERE SHUNNED INTO THE 1800TH; THOSE WHO VENTURED OUT OF THE CAMPS DURING THE WAR INTO THE PRECARIOUS UNKNOWN; THOSE WHO ANGRILY RENOUNCED THEIR CITIZENSHIPS AND WERE DEPORTED TO JAPAN; THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO VENTED THEIR WRATH AND WERE BANISHED TO THE TULE LAKE SEGREGATION CAMP -- BRANDED AS DISLOYALS. SHOULD NOT ALL OF THEM BE GIVEN DUE CREDIT FOR THEIR IMMEASURABLE SACRIFICE AND COURAGE?

EVERYONE WAS FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON HIS OR HER SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL WERE THE HELPLESS VICTIMS OF A GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT VIOLATED OUR CONSTITUTION. PATRICK HENRY, AS HE SO ELOQUENTLY STATED BACK IN 1775, WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM as they too, in their own different ways, ALL CRIED OUT – GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH. 

THANK YOU. (Deleted FOR YOUR ATTENTION)