In February of 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 in which: “[T]he president gave the military authority to define and take control over vulnerable areas of the country” (Brannen 1). Within the time frame of a few months, people of Japanese descent were sent to internment camps, and when one Fred Korematsu was imprisoned for refusing to comply, he appealed his case up to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States, claiming a violation of his rights as an American citizen (Brannen 2). However, the court ruled against him, and he was imprisoned. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Japanese Americans formed the base of “the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, [which was] composed of Japanese American soldiers” (Lee 4). By proving their loyalty to the United States, they reinforced their claim that they were American citizens and that they deserved to be treated as such. This unit became one of the most decorated in American history, demonstrating that though they may not have had American ancestors, they were part of the American
In February of 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 in which: “[T]he president gave the military authority to define and take control over vulnerable areas of the country” (Brannen 1). Within the time frame of a few months, people of Japanese descent were sent to internment camps, and when one Fred Korematsu was imprisoned for refusing to comply, he appealed his case up to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States, claiming a violation of his rights as an American citizen (Brannen 2). However, the court ruled against him, and he was imprisoned. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Japanese Americans formed the base of “the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, [which was] composed of Japanese American soldiers” (Lee 4). By proving their loyalty to the United States, they reinforced their claim that they were American citizens and that they deserved to be treated as such. This unit became one of the most decorated in American history, demonstrating that though they may not have had American ancestors, they were part of the American