Japanese Relocation Camp (lots of pictures)
Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:39 pm
I don't know if this would interest anyone or not, but here it goes anyway...
While on a road trip this past week, I found my way in extreme eastern Colorado, and noticed a sign that said "Amache Japanese Relocation Camp" on it. This piqued my interest, as I had no idea that any of these still existed. So, I drove to the area to see that there was indeed the remnants of an old Camp that was used to relocate Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the War, the government tore the buildings down, so there isn't really that much left. Not only that, but a tornado ripped through here a couple of years ago, taking with it, pretty much anything else that was standing, although there were lots of old buckets, cans, and various other metal items still laying around. The local historical group apparently just installed the signs that are pictured below. It was kind of interesting to see.........
Gary
While on a road trip this past week, I found my way in extreme eastern Colorado, and noticed a sign that said "Amache Japanese Relocation Camp" on it. This piqued my interest, as I had no idea that any of these still existed. So, I drove to the area to see that there was indeed the remnants of an old Camp that was used to relocate Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the War, the government tore the buildings down, so there isn't really that much left. Not only that, but a tornado ripped through here a couple of years ago, taking with it, pretty much anything else that was standing, although there were lots of old buckets, cans, and various other metal items still laying around. The local historical group apparently just installed the signs that are pictured below. It was kind of interesting to see.........
Gary
Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:59 pm
Gary,
Thank you VERY much for sharing this with us. It's sad that our country stooped to that level of national racism at times during that war. Seems we never learn.
Ryan
Thank you VERY much for sharing this with us. It's sad that our country stooped to that level of national racism at times during that war. Seems we never learn.
Ryan
Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:18 pm
The names on the honor role were telling.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:09 pm
Thanks for posting that, Gary. We all need reminding from time to time...
Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:00 pm
Ryan wrote:
At least we didn't stoop to the Japanese Military's level. Remember Puerto Princessa, The Bataan Death March, Nanking, the Hell Ships, the beheadings, Wake, comfort women, and the malnutrition rape and torture imposed on civilians as well. No comparison at all.
Gary,
Thank you VERY much for sharing this with us. It's sad that our country stooped to that level of national racism at times during that war. Seems we never learn.
At least we didn't stoop to the Japanese Military's level. Remember Puerto Princessa, The Bataan Death March, Nanking, the Hell Ships, the beheadings, Wake, comfort women, and the malnutrition rape and torture imposed on civilians as well. No comparison at all.
Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:06 pm
Okay, before this gets all out of control here.......
I didn't post these pictures to start another WWII. I just personally thought it was interesting to stumble across the remains of one of these camps, as I'd only heard about them and didn't know there were any remnants left......and I thought y'all might like to see what's there.
Clearly, everyone is entitled to their opinions, which is cool with me. I just hope this thread doesn't turn into one of the ever-more-popular WIX threads where everyone starts insulting everyone else.
Gary
I didn't post these pictures to start another WWII. I just personally thought it was interesting to stumble across the remains of one of these camps, as I'd only heard about them and didn't know there were any remnants left......and I thought y'all might like to see what's there.
Clearly, everyone is entitled to their opinions, which is cool with me. I just hope this thread doesn't turn into one of the ever-more-popular WIX threads where everyone starts insulting everyone else.
Gary
Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:47 pm
interesting post, thanks
I was watching Hero's on TV last week or maybe it was this week, anyway. They filmed at what looked like an old camp. I wondered if it might be the remains of a relocation camp? I don't know but it is funny to see a rare subject come up so close together.
Tim
I was watching Hero's on TV last week or maybe it was this week, anyway. They filmed at what looked like an old camp. I wondered if it might be the remains of a relocation camp? I don't know but it is funny to see a rare subject come up so close together.
Tim
Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:33 pm
Here's one in California that is a historical landmark:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanar
I've never had the opportunity to go, but like you, I would certainly stop if I could as I was passing by.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanar
I've never had the opportunity to go, but like you, I would certainly stop if I could as I was passing by.
Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:58 pm
Any idea what the concrete vault was for?
Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:37 am
Obergrafeter wrote:Any idea what the concrete vault was for?
That is about the size of the standard bank vault used at many Army installations. I'd guess it is the CO-OP finance vault? There are numerous interesting websites that give an overview of this camp. I found a lot of information here: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archiv ... ranada.htm
There is a direct connection between these internment camps and Army Air Forces training fields as well. By mid-1942 Second Air Force had been given top priority for seasoned lumber for the many airfields being constructed, but the President had decreed that materials would first be used to construct detention camps. This information can be found on pages 123 and 124 of Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States. The text of this document is in the AFHRA online library as Study 69.
Thanks for sharing the photos with us, Gary.
Scott
Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:17 am
Gary, Thanks VERY much for posting that comprehensive photo report. Plenty to think about there. Some interesting followup here too.
Just some other things that come to mind - no personal (or national) attacks intended here, just some observations. Feel free to skip it - it's an essay.
Many of these people were American citizens (as there were of each Allied nation) deprived of their freedom, ('freedom' so often promoted on WIX) without appeal, for reasons that they had no control over and were not their fault.
Interestingly several of them gained their freedom and laid down their lives for America. What more could we ask?
Undifferentiated internment was, IMHO, one of the Allies' stupidest moves of W.W.II. It was practised in most Allied countries, and no one should regard it as something to gloss over or excuse.
There was good cause to 'sweep up' potential enemy agents in any country at the imminence of war. Of course there's no correlation between nationals (or races) and agents per se, but it would be naive not to vet all appropriate groups - sensibly releasing (from internment) those vetted rather than trying to pick out (from society) those who are a risk for society. The releasing those who should be free (and could play a role in society - or the defence of the country) would seem humane, democratic and, given there will be people with contributions to make sensible to deploy the best resource of a country in time of need.
In matter of fact, Australia's only 'indigenously designed' fighter aircraft was designed by Jewish-German Fred David of CAC. He'd previously worked for a Heinkel in Germany and Aichi in Japan before arriving in Australia. As an 'enemy alien' he had to report in to the police fortnightly - while designing the country's front-line fighter (at least he wasn't kicking his heels in a prison being paid for by the state to sew mailbags). If that's not both ironic and a specific example of the risk of waste of internment, I don't know what is. (No claim Australia was 'better' or 'worse' than any other Allied nation, btw. This just happens to be a concrete example I know of. Some Americans here will be aware of the work of Japanese-Americans in radio-intercepts and the like, that I'm not familiar with in detail.)
Sadly internment of Japanese-Americans, -Canadians and -Australians has more to do with state sponsored racism in wartime, and the collateral damage to innocent civilians as a result (anti-'German' rioting in London in 1914 being another example) rather than taking the tough cause or attacking the regime rather than the disenfranchised people. The Japanese barbarities of W.W.II are almost inexplicable and certainly inexcusable - but it must be remembered that most Japanese civilians and (even) effectively many of the junior military had no control of their government, state or its policy - it was not a Democracy. This then brings us back to the question of how far 'only following orders' is excusable and what role an individual has in shaping their country's policy and morality. The Japanese became addicted to a military-led society; a salutatory warning to us all.
I thought another sad aspect of Gary's thought provoking photos was the noted destruction of the Japanese-American's social life as a result of the military style imposed life in camps. I don't think many of us would maintain our values as society well in such conditions.
The losses and destruction of war is not just life and property.
Just some thoughts.
Thanks again, Gary.
Just some other things that come to mind - no personal (or national) attacks intended here, just some observations. Feel free to skip it - it's an essay.
Many of these people were American citizens (as there were of each Allied nation) deprived of their freedom, ('freedom' so often promoted on WIX) without appeal, for reasons that they had no control over and were not their fault.
Interestingly several of them gained their freedom and laid down their lives for America. What more could we ask?
Undifferentiated internment was, IMHO, one of the Allies' stupidest moves of W.W.II. It was practised in most Allied countries, and no one should regard it as something to gloss over or excuse.
There was good cause to 'sweep up' potential enemy agents in any country at the imminence of war. Of course there's no correlation between nationals (or races) and agents per se, but it would be naive not to vet all appropriate groups - sensibly releasing (from internment) those vetted rather than trying to pick out (from society) those who are a risk for society. The releasing those who should be free (and could play a role in society - or the defence of the country) would seem humane, democratic and, given there will be people with contributions to make sensible to deploy the best resource of a country in time of need.
In matter of fact, Australia's only 'indigenously designed' fighter aircraft was designed by Jewish-German Fred David of CAC. He'd previously worked for a Heinkel in Germany and Aichi in Japan before arriving in Australia. As an 'enemy alien' he had to report in to the police fortnightly - while designing the country's front-line fighter (at least he wasn't kicking his heels in a prison being paid for by the state to sew mailbags). If that's not both ironic and a specific example of the risk of waste of internment, I don't know what is. (No claim Australia was 'better' or 'worse' than any other Allied nation, btw. This just happens to be a concrete example I know of. Some Americans here will be aware of the work of Japanese-Americans in radio-intercepts and the like, that I'm not familiar with in detail.)
Sadly internment of Japanese-Americans, -Canadians and -Australians has more to do with state sponsored racism in wartime, and the collateral damage to innocent civilians as a result (anti-'German' rioting in London in 1914 being another example) rather than taking the tough cause or attacking the regime rather than the disenfranchised people. The Japanese barbarities of W.W.II are almost inexplicable and certainly inexcusable - but it must be remembered that most Japanese civilians and (even) effectively many of the junior military had no control of their government, state or its policy - it was not a Democracy. This then brings us back to the question of how far 'only following orders' is excusable and what role an individual has in shaping their country's policy and morality. The Japanese became addicted to a military-led society; a salutatory warning to us all.
I thought another sad aspect of Gary's thought provoking photos was the noted destruction of the Japanese-American's social life as a result of the military style imposed life in camps. I don't think many of us would maintain our values as society well in such conditions.
The losses and destruction of war is not just life and property.
Just some thoughts.
Thanks again, Gary.
Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:20 am
Gary,
Thank you for posting the images and data. South East of your location, there was a WW-II bomber base, at La Junta, and between La Junta and Trinidad, a US Army training area, with some military vehicles on display near the highway.
I wish that I had known about the internment camp; it would have been a very sobering experience to visit.
Saludos,
Tulio
Thank you for posting the images and data. South East of your location, there was a WW-II bomber base, at La Junta, and between La Junta and Trinidad, a US Army training area, with some military vehicles on display near the highway.
I wish that I had known about the internment camp; it would have been a very sobering experience to visit.
Saludos,
Tulio
Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:09 am
The internment camps certainly are food for thought. There was such hysteria on the west coast of the USA after (and even before) Pearl Harbor about a Japanese invasion. Isolating all the Issei and Nissei was one of the White House's top priorities, ostensibly to cut down the possibility of espionage and sabotage. It is notable that German (my kin) and Italian emigres were not detained in any numbers.
I recently read a book with a chapter outlining the lives of a few of the internees at various camps. James mentioned the social aspect of this imprisonment. One of the impressions I got from my reading was the determination of most of the detainees to rebuild a social life while behind the barbed wire. A very resilient group of people, imprisoned in their own land, hoping for a brighter future.
Scott
I recently read a book with a chapter outlining the lives of a few of the internees at various camps. James mentioned the social aspect of this imprisonment. One of the impressions I got from my reading was the determination of most of the detainees to rebuild a social life while behind the barbed wire. A very resilient group of people, imprisoned in their own land, hoping for a brighter future.
Scott