At the heart of the controversy were two specific items on the questionnaire. Question 27 asked Nisei men if they were willing to serve in combat duty whenever and wherever ordered. Question 28 asked both the Nisei and their parents if they would swear unqualified allegiance to the United States and forswear any allegiance to the emperor of Japan. On principle, many Nisei, although they were willing to serve, deeply resented the fact that—simply because of their race—they were made to sign an oath that other American citizens were not required to sign.
