Overcoming the Odds; the History of Japanese and Puerto Rican American Immigrants During 1940-1960

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The 1940’ s- 1960’ s were times of major social, political and economical change in the United States of America. Stricken by WWII, the great depression, and clear racial prejudices, America was overwhelmed. Although many Japanese and Puerto Rican American immigrants faced a plethora of hardships, prejudices, and internal conflicts during this time, their undying belief in American ideals and the American Dream ensured that both Japanese and Puerto Rican American immigrants emerged from their adversity more devoted than ever to the United States of America. Japanese American immigrants endured two major hardships: internment camps and being called to war. After being relocated from an internment camp in Portland, Oregon to the Minidoka internment camp in the desert of Idaho, Dr. John Sadanaga served in the United States military for nearly 32 years. The camp in Portland was previously a livestock exposition building, demonstrating that the Japanese American Immigrants were viewed as if they were no more than farm animals. The Minidoka internment camp was bleak and depressing, with little to no privacy. In January of 1942, American Immigrants of Japanese ancestry were not allowed to join the army and were classified as “’enemy aliens not desired for the Armed Service.’” In January of 1943 though, the war department announced that they were going to create an all Japanese-American combat unit, the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team. After living in the internment camps for two years, Dr. Sadanaga was finally eligible to enlist for the army as a front-line combat infantryman, the only job available for Japanese-Americans. This position is one of the most dangerous in the army, showing how little they valued their lives. Even though the Americans clearly didn’t value the Japanese American soldiers’ lives, the Japanese valued America to the extent of risking their lives

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