Letter 5
name: label: Collection Donor
content: Lamboley, E. Gerald, 1915-2012
label: Collection Creator
content: Sato, Sanji (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Satow, R. (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Satow, Susama Paul (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Sato, Kiyo (student)
label: Collection Creator
content: Komata, Tomi (student)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Gerald Lamboley Collection of Japanese-American Letters
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1943-04-14 - 1943-04-14
container: label: Container
content: Box 1 (Shared Box), Folder 1
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: May 14, 1943

Poston, Arizona

Dear Miss Cox,

One does not mean to be so dilatory about writing letters, but such past discouraging times, one cannot help feeling so miserable; and, in a way, mad at the whole world.

Perhaps you have already heard that I've become a volunteer.  I believe that the decision will be for the best for Uncle Sam and for the Japanese American.  And I mean the "loyal" ones.  Your former pupils are turning out good records in this camp.  I can't say the same for the other pupils of adjacent schools tho'.  And the credits through your kind efforts.  I remember back in Ed. Kelley where I saw [children] drawing Japanese flags.  I was discouraged then, but as time went on there minds slowly changed.  Now they are truly an American.  For instance, Takeo Toguchi is now a volunteer.

Some of the people here are very sorry they didn't pledge loyalty to the stars and stripes; for they have followed the orders of their parents and pro Axis elements.  But a boy of seventeen and over, should be able to think and choose for himself, and it's only his fault for the mistake.

School will soon be over, wouldn't it?  I imagine there is only a few pupil there now. Many a times I do wonder how every thing is back in Sac'to.  On my furlough before being inducted in the Army I was thinking of going back to Sac'to, but with such high atmosphere of the people against the Japanese American I've changed my mind.
I expect to be in Salt Lake sometime next week.  The best of health to you.  I will drop in a line when I'm in Camp Shelby.
                               
Sincerely

Susuma Paul Satow

P.S.  Excuse the mistakes.  I like to rewrite it, but I'm in the war against "waste" too