THE FOLLOWING IS A
TRANSCRIPTION OF MY DOCUMENTS

Letter to my dad from Senator Olin Johnston
(Last names withheld for personal reasons)

June 10, 1953

Dear Jack,

In reply to your letter of June 5th concerning your obtaining permission to bring your son, Philip, to the United States, I beg to advise that the bill that you speak of could not be amended to include your son without including everybody that was a missionary or former world war veteran having the same privilege.

I have decided, therefore, to introduce a private bill to take care of your situation, and only yours. I fear if we cover too much field it would never pass.

In sincerely hope that I will be successful in giving you the relief requested.

With best wishes, I am -

Sincerely yours,
Olin D. Johnston

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83D Congress
1st Session

S. 2117

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 11 (legislative day, June 8), 1953
Mr. Johnston of Sough Carolina introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary

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A BILL

For the relief of Philip (Koichi). Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the purposes of sections 101 (a) (27) (A) and 205 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the minor child, Philip, (Koichi) shall be held and considered to be the natural-born alien child of Jack, a citizen of the United States.

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On July 29, 1953, in the 83rd Congress of the United Sates, Olin D. Johnston (D) of South Carolina invited my parents and I to be Senator Johnston’s guest to witness the reading of the private bill that would allow me to enter into the United Sates.

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Private Law 213-83rd Congress
Chapter 478-1st Session
S. 2117

AN ACT

For the relief of Philip (Koichi).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the purposes of sections 101 (a) (27) (A) and 205 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the minor child, Philip, (Koichi) shall be held and considered to be the natural-born alien child of Jack, a citizen of the United States.

Approved August 13, 1953

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On April 11, 1961, in the District of Columbia, I became a citizen of the United States of America.

Prior to becoming a citizen it was required that I recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. I also had to know; who the first President of the United States was, how many states there was in the union, who the current President was … it was President John F. Kennedy, and where the Capital of the United States was located.

The swearing in ceremony was a simple event. Dressed in my Sunday’s best, both parent on either side of me, we stood before the judge, I raised my right hand to took the oath of allegiance to the United States of America.

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Once all questions were answered and oath taken, with the lowering of the gavel I, Philip, became a citizen of the United States. Following the ceremony we returned to Japan.

Throughout my life I’ve been privileged to live and travel overseas. Though I loved my life in Japan, and enjoyed visiting many countries, coming home to the U.S. was the highlight of the many journeys. There’s nothing like touching down on American soil, going through customs and being welcomed home.

I am proud to be a citizen of the United States. Out of the many places I’ve visited there is no place I would rather live then here in the states. America, even with all its issues, divisions and controversies, as fare as I’m concerned being its citizen makes me proud. And every July 4th., it never ceases to remind me of that April day in 1961 when I took my oath of citizenship and became an American.

This July 4th., may we ever be reminded that out of all peoples, we are the most free on earth. And it is our duty as a free people to ensure that those freedoms handed down by our forefather’s be cherished and kept alive for generations to come. Can we loose them? Yes! Only if we become complacent.

Happy Birthday America!

Until Tomorrow ...