On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 into action. This Order authorized the military to remove civilians from certain military zones and the incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps.

The very first Day of Remembrance was held on November 25, 1978 in Seattle, Washington. Volunteers reenacted the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, from the Seattle community, to the Puyallup Assembly Center.

Army directed removal of citizens began on March 24. Anyone who was at least 1/16th Japanese was evacuated and reported to Assembly centers, then they were transported to relocation centers and wartime residences. 

Japanese Americans were first relocated to Assembly centers which were usually  in remote areas. They were usually built using fairgrounds and racetracks which were not meant for humans to live in. There were many food shortages and sanitation issues.

There were 10 relocation centers located in California, Idaho, Utah, Arkansas, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, and Hawaii. Camps typically had barracks and a communal eating area. They also had schools, post offices work facilities, and farmland.

There were several incidents of violence inside prison camps. One incident included a sentry shooting and killing two Japanese Americans but he was found not guilty. Other riots broke out as a result of anger due to insufficient rations and overcrowding.

A great number of second-generation Japanese Americans served in the military  forming all-Nisei combat teams in 1943. The  442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion are some of the most highly decorated units.

U.S. Senators Spark Matsunaga and Daniel Inouye helped with in the passing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, where the U.S. government formally apologized. Congress awarded $20,000 each to over 80,000 Japanese Americans for reparations