Phil Shigekuni, who spent his childhood years at Amache camp in Colorado, testified before the CWRIC about the danger of silence, the burden of misinformation, and the urgent need for redress.

• Childhood in Camp: At eight and nine years old, Phil was incarcerated with his family at Amache. Decades later, as a high school counselor, he still carried those memories while helping younger generations understand what happened.

• Confronting Misinformation: He described hearing colleagues—educated people, even fellow veterans—say things like, “What happened to you is the same as what happened to me in the Navy.” Such statements shocked him, but he realized they persisted because the Japanese American community had long remained silent about its grievances.

• Youth Confusion: Even his students repeated myths handed down from parents—that camps were “for protection” or “military necessity.” Phil’s anger at these distortions fueled his commitment to redress work.

• Commission Concerns: Criticized a commissioner’s public comments about Congress’s unwillingness to fund redress before testimony was even complete. He urged that recommendations be based on evidence and justice—not fiscal climate.

• Faith in America: Stressed that despite humiliation, loss of property, and imprisonment, Japanese Americans had remained loyal to the United States. “The time has come to see that this faith is well founded. Japanese America is counting on you for justice. Please don’t let us down.”

• Debate on Money & Principle: Pressed by commissioners about the realism of Congress approving billions in compensation, Phil acknowledged the dilemma: elders were dying, and justice delayed could mean justice denied. Still, he held that principle must guide the Commission, not political expediency.

• On Heirs & Comparisons: When asked whether heirs should receive compensation, he cited Holocaust reparations as precedent, though admitted he would not press as strongly for heirs if it meant jeopardizing immediate justice for survivors. He distinguished Japanese American redress from slavery by emphasizing direct, documented government action in WWII.