April 2013—William McWhorter, historian with the Texas Historical Commission, reports: “The Texas Historical Commission’s archeological survey of two sites of the former Crystal City (Family) Internment Camp was conducted between April 15-19 of this year [2013]. Last month, our contractor Hicks and Co. completed their final report. … I regret we found next to nothing […]
On January 26, 2013, Eb Fuhr (Palatine IL), Frances Ott Allen (Cinncinnati, OH), Alfred Wohlpart (Oak Ridge, TN), and Anneliese Krauter (McCordsville, IN) told a rapt audience at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, about the experiences they and their families had as declared enemy aliens in WW II. An audience of around 150 people attended the event, hosted […]
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 3:30 P.M., eight new interpretive panels about the Crystal City, TX Internment Camp and the people kept there, were dedicated at the site. The Texas Historical Commission, Zavala County officials, the city of Crystal City, and former internees joined together for a ceremony commemorating the history of the camp and […]
A small group gathered January 16-17, 2011 at the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) facilities, the site of the Fort Lincoln WWII internment camp, to discuss the results of the larger brainstorming sessions of May 30-June 2, 2010, and plan a proposal for the next round of Japanese American Confinement Sites grants, due March 1. […]
Alfred and Susan Schmidt married in Germany in 1932, moved to the U.S. the following year, eventually working their way to Honolulu. In 1935 Alfred began a roofing business of his own, and in 1940, he and his wife became naturalized American citizens, changing their name to Smith. Their experiences with internment at various […]
A reunion and picnic for former internees and their families was held August 28, 2010 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Anneliese Krakau, nee Busch, former internee and also the widow of internee, Alfred, graciously hosted the event with her daughter. Eb Fuhr, who co-ordinated the event, reports that it was an outstanding success. Over ninety people attended […]
May 30-June 2, 2010—Public Law 109-441 authorized the National Park Service to create a program to encourage and support the preservation and interpretation of historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Pursuant to this program, a grant was awarded to the United Tribes Technical College (“UTTC”), now owners of the former […]
On December 8, 2009, the 68th anniversary of the internment of the first German Americans under the U. S. Government’s Alien Enemy Control Program, the German World Alliance, in co-operation with the National Park Service and the support of the German American Internee Coalition, Maj. Arthur D. Jacobs of foitimes.com, the Steuben Society and many other German-American organizations, hosted […]
April 2009—The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that Japanese American Confinement Sites grant applications are now available for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Grants will be awarded to organizations and entities working to preserve historic Japanese American confinement sites and their history, […]
On March 19, 2009, the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, chaired by Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) joined by Ranking Member Steven King (IA-5), convened a hearing focused on the U.S. treatment of European Americans and Latin Americans, Japanese Latin Americans, and Jewish refugees during World […]