Official government reasons for Japanese internment included a fear of the presence of Japanese spies, terrorists and sympathizers within the Japanese-American population on the West Coast that were loyal to the emperor instead of the United States. General Dewitt for example was afraid the Japanese-Americans would be active in subverting American war efforts on the West Coast via sabotage and the marking of coastal targets for Japanese invasion or attack. Through other sources, I have found that some of the ridiculous claims included reports of Japanese Americans growing tomato patches in the shape of an arrow that pointed the way to Pamona, California (home to aircraft factories and other defense industries) and other potential targets.
Some historians cite one reason behind the passing of executive order 9066 was issued was to appease the fears of citizens on the West Coast who were in a near state of panic at the time due to submarine raids along the coast and the fiasco of the Los Angeles Air Raid. Additional motives at the time included moving the Japanese to a location for their safety as much as the nation’s. While I would like to believe our government to be so noble in cause by protecting people from racist opinions and paranoia as public opinion and propaganda of the era support the reason for a need to protect them, I feel the public’s opinion was stirred up intentionally by those who’s interest was served best in seeing the Japanese moved away.
For the Japanese-Americans, the internment was humiliating and enraging experience. Being allowed to only take a suitcase with them, many Japanese-Americans lost everything during the war. Many young men, born to Japanese immigrant parents, volunteered to fight in Europe to prove their loyalty to America and regain their honor.
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