The enviable war record of Japanese-American soldiers
The Loyal Niseis by Anatolio Litonjua
I
Na restaurant in downtown Manila recently two Nisei soldiers-Niseis are Americans of Japanese descent
-were taking
ice~c:r€am.
Presently, a
Phfiip,pine Army lieutenant seated at a near-by table spotted t hem, nudged his companion, another Filipino. "Damn Japs," h~ said aloud and hurled a stream of abuse on the two Niseis, maligning their r acial antecedents and impugning their loyalty to America. Bootblacks idly standing at the doorway were attracted by the incident, went into the restaurant, gawked at the two Japane",,Americans as if they were strange animals in a zoo, and contributed their bit to the harangll~. The Niseis struggled hard to control themselves. Not wanting to create .. scene, they abruptly stood up from their half-emptied cups of ice-<:ream, and walked out. In another incident, three Niseis were walking down the Escolta one evening when they were stopped by a Manila policeman and perfunctorily ordered to show their credentials. Presently, more Filipino cops arrived in a jeep, sur-
rounded the bewildered Niseis, and gave them a stinging lecture on military deportment-"Rol! down your sleeves, you Japs. Button up your shirts." The Niseis protested that since they were off-duty they were not expected by the military authorities themselves to be strictly ae rigeur in their appearance. At this, that particular specimen of "Manila's Finest" blurted out: "If I had my way, I'd kill all of you J aps."
Such incidents are regrettable because they tend to create animosity towards a group of people who have proV1ed to be one of our most loyal allies. Such outbreaks are usually the outcome not 80 much of racial intolerance as of ignorance. The influential New York Times in .. recent editorial deplored the occurrences, g iv ing as reason for Filipino bitterness the fact that "over three years ~f Japanese occupation had taught them to hate t he very sight of a Japanese, in whatever uniform he might be dressed ," To the credit of the Niseis subjected to ill-treatment, it may be said that they have shown admirable self-control in the face of frequent provocations.
THE
Niseis concerned belonged to the interpreters and translators team which has been rendering invaluable service in the current war crimes trials in Manila. Major General Basilio J. Valdes, former chief of staff of t he Philippine Army and a member of the military commission that tried Gen. Masaharu Homrna and other war criminal suspects, has highly commended the services of Nisei interpreters duriJlg the trials. "In the past," General Valdes said, "these men have contributed much in the campaigns for the liberation of the Philippines. Today they are doing a difficult and valuable service in assisting the trial and prosecution of those war criminals who brought so much terror and violence to the Filipino people. The job of clearing the .urrendered force. of
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