 |
Fred KorematsuWitness to the bloody events during the Battle of Pearl Harbor
Date of Birth: 30.01.1919
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Fred Korematsu, Japanese American Civil Rights Icon
- The Outbreak of World War II
- Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066
- Defiance and Internment
- Life in the Internment Camp
- Post-War Legacy and Recognition
- Death and Legacy
Fred Korematsu, Japanese American Civil Rights Icon
Early Life and ChildhoodFred Korematsu was born on January 30, 1919, in Oakland, California. His parents were Japanese immigrants who had come to the United States in 1905. Fred grew up as an ordinary teenager, with no criminal record or history of leaving the United States.
The Outbreak of World War II
Fred's life took a dramatic turn with the advent of World War II. Despite suffering from a stomach ulcer, he was unable to enlist in the military due to his Japanese ancestry. Instead, he found work as a welder's apprentice.
Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor fueled widespread fear and suspicion of Japanese Americans. In response, General John DeWitt issued Executive Order 9066, requiring all Americans of Japanese descent to leave restricted military areas and report to internment camps.
Defiance and Internment
Fred Korematsu refused to comply with the order, deciding instead to go into hiding in a small town in Nevada. He went to great lengths to disguise his Japanese features, including altering his own eyes and changing his name to Clyde Sarah. In May 1942, he was arrested by police for failing to report to a camp. He was imprisoned in San Francisco and eventually sent to an internment camp in Topaz, Utah.
Life in the Internment Camp
Korematsu endured harsh conditions in the internment camp, working as a manual laborer and receiving only meager pay. He unsuccessfully appealed for early release several times.
Post-War Legacy and Recognition
After the war, Korematsu began rebuilding his life in Salt Lake City, where he eventually married and had two children. In the 1980s, President Jimmy Carter commissioned a formal investigation into the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. In 1998, President Bill Clinton personally awarded Korematsu the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Death and Legacy
Fred Korematsu passed away on March 30, 2005. He is remembered as a courageous and principled advocate for civil rights. His story continues to inspire generations to fight against discrimination and injustice.
