Homma Family Photos of Amache and Wada Family DOJ documents

On March 13, 1942, the FBI executed an arrest warrant under emergency authorization from the Assistant US Attorney Leo Silverstein. The Presidential warrant, number crossed out, was requested by the US Attorney of Los Angeles on March 10, 1942, file #100-12200 and #100-12201. As stated in the warrant, the charges against Kuni Wada were for “being a dangerous alien engaging in subversive activities.” The warrant stated that Mrs. Wada was a teacher at the Upland Kyosei-Kai Japanese Language School in Laguna which was indirectly controlled by the Japanese Gov’t by approving the books it used. Rev. Wada charges stated on the warrant, D.J. 146-13-2-12-3447, were “Suspicion of Pro-Japanese Sympathy and Activities.”

Rev. and Mrs. Wada were taken to the LA County Jail. Rev. Wada was then taken to the INS Tuna Canyon jail prior to being transferred to Army Control at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rev. Wada was then held at Lordsburg DOJ Camp, 29-H-J-614 C.I, until the end of 1943. Mrs. Wada was taken into custody and jailed on Terminal Island then sent to be “interned” at Seagoville, Texas. The rest of the Wada children were sent to different internment camps. Michihiko was sent to Heart Mountain, WY, 14-8-24. Yasushi Wada, a Gardena High graduate and Univ. of Redlands student, was sent to Poston, AZ, Block 14-14-D until his parents and missionary friends were able to get him into Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Midori, who was going to Pomona City College, went to Santa Anita and then Amache, 12K-12E, with the Homma family. Midori wrote several letters to the US government and other ministers on behalf of her parents.

As written in Part IV, of the famous Rev. Herbert Nicholson’s book, Treasure in Earthen Vessels, Rev. Nicholson was able to visit all the Wadas during the war in the different interment camp and detention centers. During a visit to Seagoville women’s penitentiary, Rev. Nicholson visited with Mrs. Wada for the afternoon. He talked about visiting Rev. Wada in Lordsburg, Midori and Mutsu in Amache, Mike at Heart Mountain, and Yas in Eastern Baptist seminary. Rev. Nicholson, from Pasadena and Pomona, was a good family friend and a missionary to Japan. While Rev. Wada was at Lordsburg in Nov. 1942, C.V. Hibbard, from the YMCA War Prisoner’s Aid Committee was able to send an English Bible and a note referencing working together in Japan.

Rev. and Mrs. Wada were reunited in Crystal City, Texas prior to be transferred to Amache Internment Camp in Colorado where the Homma family and Midori Wada were being held. The Homma family and Midori Wada went to Amache via Santa Anita Assembly center.

The Wada and Homma families relocated to Seattle, WA after their release from Amache.