Exhibition Educator Guide

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. initially banned Japanese Americans from serving in the military but reversed the policy in January 1943. In total, over 33,000 young Japanese American men and women volunteered, or were drafted, into the U.S. Army. They served in the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Unit, a segregated Japanese American unit, and in the Military Intelligence Service. At the same time, Japanese American women stepped forward to serve in the Women’s Army Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and Cadet Nurse Corps, taking on essential non-combat roles that supported the war effort.

The incarceration of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast of the mainland United States during World War II was a wholesale denial of civil rights. Approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were American citizens by birth, were forced from their homes for no reason other than their ancestry.

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Executive Order 9066 did not specifically mention Japanese Americans; it instead gave the secretary of war and his commanders the power "to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded." Executive Order 9066, however, was quickly used to incarcerate individuals of Japanese ancestry, with no evidence of crimes having been committed and without due process.

Japanese Americans were given between a few days and a few weeks to pack what they could carry and sell or store the rest. They then boarded buses that took them first to temporary detention facilities, referred to as "assembly centers," where they would be held until more permanent camps, in unknown locations, were completed.
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Ask students to compare two perspectives:

How do both reflect courage and contribution?

Military service brought Japanese American soldiers into contact with people from across the United States, often in environments far different from their home communities. These encounters exposed them to a wide range of perspectives, cultures, and social realities. At the same time, service members navigated their own identities in a country where their loyalty had been questioned.

Interactions with others — whether through shared work, conversation, or daily routines — sometimes revealed differences in background and experience. In other moments, they created opportunities for connection and mutual understanding. These encounters highlight how relationships formed under challenging circumstances could foster empathy, challenge assumptions, and build unexpected bonds.

Have students discuss:

For many Japanese American veterans and community members, service did not end when the war was over. Returning home, they faced the challenge of rebuilding their lives while also confronting the legacy of wartime incarceration. In the decades that followed, individuals and organizations worked to ensure that this history would not be forgotten.
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These efforts included sharing personal stories, educating the public, and advocating for government acknowledgment of the injustice. Their work contributed to a broader movement that eventually led to the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which formally recognized the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

This continued commitment reflects another form of service, one focused on justice, memory, and the responsibility to future generations.

Ask students: