Failing the Military’s “Loyalty Test” in the 1940s Sent Thousands to This Internment Camp

Camp Tulelake, California

Camp Tule Lake went from regular prison camp to maximum security lockdown in just one year. There was a truck crash, mass protests, and martial law, plus Questions #27 and #28 that branded people “disloyal” or “loyal.”

Here’s the story of this extreme wartime prison, now preserved as a National Monument.

The Loyalty Questionnaire’s Creation

In early 1943, the US military needed Japanese American soldiers despite having removed them from their homes. The government created a questionnaire to test the “loyalty” of people in the camps.

The form was first meant for young men who might join the army. Officials quickly expanded it to include all adults in camps, even women and older immigrants who couldn’t become citizens.

Camp staff handed out this form in early 1943. It asked about education, language skills, and group memberships to judge how “American” or “Japanese” each person was.

The Two Controversial Questions

Two questions caused the most trouble. Question 27 asked: “Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?”

Question 28 asked: “Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States… and forswear any form of allegiance to the Japanese emperor?”

These questions forced impossible choices on people already unfairly imprisoned. Question 27 made little sense for women and older men. Question 28 effectively asked people to choose between their Japanese heritage and American identity while behind barbed wire.

Why Many Answered “No-No”

Many people refused to answer “yes” to both questions. First-generation immigrants (Issei) couldn’t become US citizens due to racist laws.

If they gave up their Japanese citizenship, they would become stateless. Many American-born Japanese (Nisei) saw these questions as deeply unfair while imprisoned without trial.

Their “no” answers were a form of peaceful protest. Families feared being split apart if members answered differently. Parents worried that saying “yes” might send their sons to war while they remained in camps.

Tule Lake’s Designation as Segregation Center

On July 15, 1943, the government announced Tule Lake would become a segregation center. Officials chose Tule Lake because it had the highest percentage of people who answered “no” to the loyalty questions.

The government claimed this segregation would protect “loyal” Japanese Americans from “troublemakers.” This policy drove deeper divisions in the Japanese American community. Camp director Harvey Coverley oversaw the loyalty questionnaire process.

Later, Raymond Best took over to run the new high-security segregation center.

The Massive Population Transfer

In fall 1943, about 12,000 people labeled “disloyal” moved to Tule Lake from other camps. Meanwhile, officials offered 6,500 “loyal” Tule Lake residents the choice to transfer to camps in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, or Arkansas.

About one-third of original Tule Lake residents stayed despite being labeled “loyal.” Many didn’t want to move again or needed to care for sick family members. The camp soon held 18,700 people in a space built for 15,000.

The Camp’s Transformation to Maximum Security

The government turned Tule Lake into a prison-like facility. Officials stationed 1,000 military police at the camp, backed by tanks and armed vehicles. Workers built an eight-foot high double fence around the entire camp.

The number of guard towers increased from 6 to 28, with armed guards watching over the imprisoned people day and night. This heavy military presence made Tule Lake far harsher than other camps.

The November 1943 Protest and Its Aftermath

On November 1, 1943, between 5,000 and 10,000 Tule Lake residents gathered peacefully near the administration area. They came to support camp leaders meeting with officials about poor living conditions.

This gathering frightened white staff, who demanded more protection. Newspapers falsely reported that armed Japanese Americans had staged an uprising. Camp Director Best used this peaceful assembly as an excuse for harsher measures.

Guards arrested several camp leaders, beat them, and locked them in a makeshift prison called the “stockade.”

The Imposition of Martial Law

The Army declared martial law at Tule Lake on November 14, 1943. Tule Lake became the only camp placed under direct military control. Soldiers enforced a strict curfew and searched barracks without warning.

Most daily activities stopped completely. Only essential workers kept their jobs while others stayed confined to their barracks without income. Food, hot water, and heating fuel ran short during winter.

These harsh conditions created deep anger toward camp authorities, with residents suffering through months of unnecessary hardship.

The Stockade

Officials built a prison area inside Tule Lake called the stockade. Guards put people there without charges, trials, or legal help, often beating prisoners severely. Families couldn’t visit relatives in the stockade or even learn about their condition.

Guards imprisoned people for vague “crimes” like being a “troublemaker” or “too well educated.” Stockade prisoners lived with little food, poor sanitation, and no medical care. This prison-within-a-prison operated outside all normal legal rules.

End of Martial Law and the ACLU Intervention

Military control of Tule Lake ended January 15, 1944, after two months of harsh rule. The experience destroyed many people’s faith in American democracy. In spring 1944, Ernest Besig from the Northern California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union learned about abuses in the stockade.

When his organization blocked him from investigating, he asked attorney Wayne Collins for help. Collins visited Tule Lake and threatened legal action that would trigger government investigations. His pressure forced officials to close the stockade and release the prisoners.

Visiting Tule Lake National Monument

You’ll find Tule Lake National Monument near the town of Newell in Modoc County, California. Start at the Tule Lake Visitor Center at 226 West C Street, Tulelake, CA 96134.

Admission is free. Rangers offer guided tours of the segregation center site, but availability varies seasonally. Call 530-667-8113 to confirm current schedule and reserve spots. The site preserves the original jail, stockade, and parts of the motor pool.

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