[Verginius Rufus]

I don't think Japanese or Chinese immigrants were allowed to become naturalized citizens until 1951. The Japanese-Americans who were US citizens were those born in the US.

The Japanese living in Hawaii were not interned en masse--they were too large a percentage of the population. The young Japanese-Americans who joined the military fought with exceptional bravery in Europe.

James Michener's Hawaii is very interesting on the World War II period.

[chrisinoc]

Actually it was not until 1959 were they allowed to become American citizens. The immigration act of 1952 ended the ban on naturalization but they still had to wait seven years.

My grandfather I mentioned in the previous post applied immediately for citizenship but had to wait seven years. I remember him learning American history even though his education and English were not that good.