What About Their Homes? 

   Conclusion

     At the time of Pearl Harbor, there were some 5,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. All were discharged...classified as "enemy aliens ineligible for the draft." In 1943, Japanese born in America were allowed to enter or reenter the Army. The 442nd Infantry Regiment serving in Europe became one of the most decorated in American history.

     Some families were allowed to leave the camps for good, though not on the West Coast. December 1944: FDR allowed Japanese Americans to return to their homes. Some did, only to face vigilantes and violence. One family arrived home on July 10, 1945, finding their businesses locked up, cars and tractors stripped of parts, and their house burned to the ground. At least one ranch had been sold by a stranger. 

     Many moved into barns or shacks, shoddy towns, trailer parks, abandoned Army barracks...and worked menial jobs. Some were afraid of white people, angry with America. Some died by suicide. Some returned to Japan. 

     Total loss of property and income to Japanese Americans may have been as high as $4 billion. Those on the West Coast lost an estimated 75 percent of their assets. After the war, most American-born Japanese moved to Illionois, Colorado, Ohio, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota and New York. 

     In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, providing $20,000 to each camp survivor. 

NO JAPANESE AMERICAN EVER FOUND TO BE ALIEN

NO JAPANESE APPOLOGY FOR PEARL HARBOR