Ben’s speech before the Commonwealth Club was widely covered by local newspapers and reporters for national radio networks and news agencies. Among the California papers carrying the Associated Press account were the Modesto Bee and the Petaluma Argus-Courier. See “Japanese American Sergeant’s Tolerance Plea Is Applauded,” Modesto Bee, February 4, 1944, p. 2, and “Jap American Sergeant Wins Big Ovation,” Petaluma Argus-Courier, February 4, 1944, p. 5. The Chicago Tribune played coverage of Ben’s speech on its front page. See “U.S. Jap Asks to Visit Tokio—in a Liberator,” Chicago Tribune, February 5, 1944, p. 1.
CHAPTER 39: “NO TURNING BACK”
1
See Yoshito Kuromiya and Arthur A. Hansen, ed., Beyond the Betrayal, p. 63. Yosh also wrote about his decision to resist the draft in a July 2, 2000, essay titled “The Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee (A Resisters Account),” which was later incorporated in Beyond the Betrayal, pp. 59–63. Another account of Yosh Kuromiya’s reaction to his draft notice is “In Memoriam: Yosh Kuromiya (1923–2018),” Kokoro Kara: Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation newsletter, Summer 2018, p. 6.
2
Yosh Kuromiya, “The Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee (A Resisters Account).”
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
Susan Kamei, When Can We Go Back to America?, p. 216.
7
Frank Abe, Conscience and the Constitution documentary, 2000.
8
Yosh Kuromiya, “The Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee (A Resisters Account).”
9
Ibid.
CHAPTER 40: HEART MOUNTAIN
1
United Press dispatch, “Jap Air Hero Hitches Ride to Broadcast,” Oakland (California) Tribune, February 23, 1944, p. 13.
2
Ben Kuroki interview with Bill Kubota, August 26–27, 1998.
3
Ibid.
4
Eichi Sakauye interview with Bill Kubota, December 6, 1998, Most Honorable Son documentary, unedited footage, Ben Kuroki Collection, KDN Films Archives.
5
Ben Kuroki interview with Bill Kubota, August 26–27, 1998.
6
Ibid.
7
James Sakoda interview with Bill Kubota, March 4, 2000, Most Honorable Son documentary, unedited footage, Ben Kuroki Collection, KDN Films Archives.
8
Jack Tono interview with Bill Kubota, n.d., Most Honorable Son documentary, unedited footage, Ben Kuroki Collection, KDN Films Archives.
9
Ibid.
10
