Untold Stories: Japanese-Americans

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many Japanese-Americans were subjected to segregation and discrimination both locally and nationally. This led to the detainment of Japanese-Americans into internment camps as they were not considered U.S. citizens. They were believed to be colluding with Japan and needed to be held to prevent the spilling of military secrets. However, some Japanese-Americans felt a greater connection with the United States as they were far removed from their Japanese heritage. This left some wanting to join the military and fight for the Allied forces. The U.S. government decided to create a special unit for these individuals called the 100th battalion. This page tells their story from their point of view as well as through the perspective of their children. This is just one of many stories that need to be told when talking about the City of La Crosse. Further research needs to be done by local historians. The collection and preservation of artifacts and stories related to these groups is vital to remembering their sacrifices for our community.

Photo courtesy of the La Crosse Public Library Archives.

Kayla Price, Lauren Brewer, Margaret Hansen, Missy Winter, Wyatt Molling

Created Spring 2022

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