About the publisher: I cried reading Darrell Kunitomi’s article about his uncle and the inhumanity the US government committed against Japanese Americans who were needlessly forced into US concentration camps during World War II.

Despite the humiliation of everyday life in Santa Anita Park, where Japanese Americans were held before being sent to distant detention camps, his uncle, Private First Class Ted Fujioka, is buried in France after making the ultimate sacrifice for the country, which did so well. Damage to his family and community. He was one of approximately 800 Japanese-Americans killed while serving their country.

The letters Kunitomi received from his uncle during his time in Santa Anita are cherished for the honest stories they tell and for Ted’s hopes for American ideals, which are still regularly tarnished.

Kay Ochi, Chula Vista..

About the publisher: Kunitomi’s mother was my 5th and 6th grade teacher at Los Feliz Elementary School. Richard Nixon had just begun his second term as president.

We started our day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Kunitomi, an elegant lady with a strong singing voice, then led us to a rousing patriotic song as she played her autoharp. “You’re a Grand Old Flag” was a favorite.

In those years, history lessons were devoted to Father Junipero Serra’s missionary system. We also studied Hawaii and its later statehood as a state. We had a great time

I

Wow class party where Mrs Kunitomi sang.

Little did we know that live, breathe, true history, most unfair, discriminatory and hurtful, sang right to us.

Woman. Kunitomi did not speak of her family’s imprisonment and that of many other Japanese-Americans in the class, nor of her late brother.

,

Teddy, a heroic member of the legendary 442 Army Regiment.

I wish she had. I’m glad your son did.

Peter McDonald, Los Feliz.

About the publisher: Kunitomi does a great job showing some local details of the horrific years of Japanese-American mass incarceration.

Thank goodness the victims were still allowed to send and receive mail like Kunitomi’s uncle did. The letters he sent to his history teacher really betray the daily activities behind the fence.

In retrospect, does anyone believe that the knee-jerk reaction that imprisoned so many civilians from 1942 onwards was even effective? I hope modern leaders have a cooler head.

And thank you for putting Kunitomi’s piece on the cover.

Greg Golden, Van Nuys