WA HR4692

Washington State House of Representatives acknowledges the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 (February 19, 1942), which authorized the forced removal and incarceration of more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, including 12,000 Washington State residents

Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island received the first civilian evacuation order, given less than one week to report to detention centers like Camp Harmony at the Puyallup fairgrounds, where families were housed in converted horse stables

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, organized March 23, 1943, earned seven Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 9,486 Purple Hearts, and the 2010 Congressional Gold Medal—an unparalleled military record

A 1982 Congressional commission found "no military or security reason" for the incarceration, attributing it to "racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership"

Resolution directs copies be transmitted to the Nisei Veterans Committee, Densho, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington State, and Wing Luke Museum