Years of Infamy [Paperback]

Michi Nishiura Weglyn (Author), James A. Michener (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0295974842 | ISBN-13: 978-0295974842 | Publication Date: September 5, 2000 | Edition: updated

"A truly excellent and moving book ...The story of the concentration camps for Japanese has often been told, but usually with an emphasis on the silver lining ...Michi Weglyn concentrates instead on the other side of the picture. "Years of Infamy" is hard hitting but fair and balanced. It is a terrible story of administrative callousness and bungling, untold damage to the human soul, confusion, and terror."- Edwin O. Reischauer, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in 1976, this expanded edition of the history of the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII features additional resource guides.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A truly excellent and moving book ... The story of the concentration camps for Japanese has often been told, but usually with an emphasis on the silver lining... Michi Weglyn concentrates instead on the other side of the picture. Years of Infamy is hard hitting but fair and balanced. It is a terrible story of administrative callousness and bungling, untold damage to the human soul, confusion, and terror."-Edwin O. Reischauer, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan "A conscience-wrenching book of major significance."-Mike Mansfield, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan "Certainly the most thoroughly documented account of WWII Japanese American internment... Behind the claim of 'military necessity' Weglyn points to the U.S. desire for a 'barter reserve'-i.e. hostages of war. Also discussed is the little known fact that Japanese nationals from ... Latin American countries were exported to the U.S... Formidable.-Kirkus Reviews "Very detailed, nightmarish account ... painstakingly vivid portrayal of what could be the most grotesque and saddest chapter in our two-century history ... terrible testimonial to a monumental wrong."-Bestsellers "Replete with incriminating documents which verify ... events which led to ... American concentration camps... The documentation ... is so complete as to allow no other definition... The grim reality bursts forth from every page."-El Paso Herald-Post "Fascinating and shattering ... extraordinary history."-The New York Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: University of Washington Press; updated edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295974842
• ISBN-13: 978-0295974842
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Book on the Repression on Innocent Victims Based on Race and the Word of Stupid Men, April 1, 2006

By 

James E. Egolf "James E. Egolf, MA" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Years of Infamy (Paperback)

Michi Weglyns' YEARS OF INFAMY refutes once and for all the idiocy that President Roosevelt's Executive Order # 9066 was a necessary means to make the U.S. secure. Mrs. Weglyn's book makes a shambles out of this thesis, and her book presents "chapter and verse" anecdtotes which refute the contention that somehow these innocent men, women, and children were somehow a threat to the U.S. during World War II.

Of partuclar note is Mrs. Weglyn's citation of the Munson Report which was issue on November 7, 1941. This report was based on government unwarranted spying and snooping of Americans of Japanese, the AJAs, and the report clearly stated that these people showed a "remakrable, even extrodinary degree of loyalty of this generally suspect ethnic group." Mrs. Weglyn examines the corrpution of legal standards and fair justice by both government officials and jurists. She is clear that, while these events took place in the 1940s, this is a systematic government policy any time when government officials see a chance to persecute a target minority any time they desire.

One should note that California officials were actively involved in persecuting AJAs as these cowards saw a chance to loot and dispossess AJAs, innocent people, of their wealth and property. This episode should be a warning to U.S. citizens who think they are safe.

Mrs. Weglyn proves that those Japanese who lost everything to an unjust government persecution were even criminalized after World War II. If these innocent people challenged the Almighty Government for the theft of their wealth and property, they could get ten year prison terms and fines of thousands if they did not cross every "t" and dot every "i." This is the way the government tries to cover their criminality.

What may anger those who still think the government criminals had any basis for this attack on basic civil liberties is the fact that many of these AJA's recovered from all the persecution and loss and recovered. Many of the AJAs became professionals who were successful after World War II was over.

There are some minor weaknesses in this book. For example, Mrs. Weglyn could have enhanced her book by extending her text to include the heroism of the all AJA units that were recruited during World War II. These men were the most highly decorated units during World War II and fought bravely while thier wives, children, parents, and loved ones suffered in concentration camps in the United States stretching from California to Arkansas. No less a figure than General Douglas Mac Arthur stated that without the AJA units intelligence work behind Japanese lines, his forces may not have been able to defeat the Japanese Empire during World War II. These men in the AJA units operated behind enemy lines gathering intelligence, posing as Japanese troops to free American prisoners of war, and providing outstanding intelligence that abled U.S. forces to defeat the Japanese. Someone may remember the all AJA unit, the 442nd, who freed "a good old boy" Texan unit in Europe. The AJAs had more casualities than the number of men they rescued.

Mrs. Weglyn could have also taken advantage of the illegal court activities that were used to justify the illegal acts of government to justify the mistreatment of innocent Americans. Peter Irons book titled JUSTICE AT WAR shows clearly just how unjust and illegal these forced internments were.

This book, YEARS OF INFAMY, is meant for thoughtful people. Those who worship the government and adore state policies should avoid this book as it may cause culture shock. They would read text and documents that would refute the adoring attitude that the government does no wrong. On the other hand, those who care about their civil liberties and wish to retain their wealth and property should carefully read this book. They will have a better insight of how government officials, adored by non-thinking public, can victimize innocent people until false pretenses.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply put, the best introduction to this dark storey., November 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Years of Infamy (Paperback)

While the book may seem to be about old business, it is a storyas timely today as it was 23 years ago. Michi Weglyn tells a story ofterrible deeds in simple and unpretentious language. Her Kafkaesque tale of betryal and political hubris is a reminder to all of us of how fragile freedom really is. I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to understand the corrosive and immoral effects of both racism and its handmaiden, the mass media. This book should be read by all students, of any age who still believe that truth and justice are more than sound bites.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informational, May 29, 2001

By 

Michael - See all my reviews

This review is from: Years of Infamy (Paperback)

Years of Infamy is a product of diligent research and passion. The use of words, such as "concentration camps" and "inmates" showed a strong bias. Michi Weglyn had the opinion that the internment process was unnecessary, and, rather than keep the country safe from sabotage, it only made thousands of people bitter, the author included. But though the author had an obvious bias, she represented both sides well. She noted that the government had intentions of keeping the country safe when internment began, and she also noted that, in this time of war, paranoia of sabotage and unpatriotic events caused a low tolerance in the authorities.

Weglyn supported her thesis well. She made known that many people objected to the internment, including Harold Ickes and Attorney General Clark in Chapter 2, the Quakers in Chapter 3, Norman Thomas in Chapter 7, and Ernest Besig in Chapter 10, among others. The U.S Government's want of revenge was specifically mentioned in Chapters 1 and 2, where she noted that Japan had kept Americans from returning home, and the U.S. Government decided to match (and multiply by 100) the hostage amount; it was generally echoed throughout the course of the book. She also made known that those who objected did know the true situation, which was racial prejudice.

Weglyn provided the reader with a large quantity of valid information. Approximately 25 pages of appendixes, 10 pages of photos, 30 pages of notes, a thorough bibliography, Dramatis Personae, and an index for quick reference proved a large amount of research. In every chapter, sections of personal accounts were included, and they made the book more personal, especially since Weglyn herself was interned. Also included is the perspective that many have never been given insight to: that of the internee. Before this book was published, many Japanese kept quiet, and very little of the relocation events are taught in public schools. Reading a book such as this could broaden one's historical horizons.

This book would be best suited to researchers or those with great interest in the time period. Much like a newspaper article, fact after fact is thrown at the reader. While that may derail the casual reader, one reading for informational purposes rather than enjoyment would find the book pleasurable.