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John Lesesne DeWitt was an American Army general, best known for his role in the Internment Of Japanese-Americans during World War II . MILITARY CAREER DeWitt was born at Fort Sidney, Nebraska on January 9 , 1880 . On October 10, 1898, he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Infantry . He would go on to serve twenty years within the infantry in various posts. World War I In 1918, he set out with the 42nd Infantry Division to the battlefields of World War I . At this time, he was already a Lieutenant Colonel, and continued duties as a Quartermaster in the General Staff Headquarters. In July of 1918, DeWitt was promoted to full Colonel, and continued Quartermaster duties for the 1st Army. He received the Distinguished Service Medal at the end of World War I. Post World War I Between 1919 and 1930, DeWitt served in various Quartermaster positions at posts such as Assistant Commandant of the General Staff College, Chief of the Storage and Issue Branch, and the supply division. In 1930, he was promoted to the rank of Major General , Quatermaster General of the U.S. Army. As well as his regular duties as Quartermaster General, DeWitt also assumed control of the Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage. General DeWitt was responsible for all logistics involving this Congress-approved event. After returning to the Infantry, DeWitt assumed control of the Philippine Division. In July of 1937, he became Commandant of the Army War College . Two years later, in December of 1939, DeWitt was promoted to Lieutenant General, and then assumed command of the Fourth Army as well as the Western Defense Command with responsibilities for the West Coast area of the United States. World War II From December 5, 1939 to June 15, 1943, DeWitt commanded the Western Defense Command. In February of 1942, a report of his to President Roosevelt wrote that no sabotage by Japanese-Americans had yet been confirmed — but that this only proved "a disturbing and confirming indication that such action ''will'' be taken."1 He recommended the evacuation of all Japanese from the coastal areas of California , Oregon , and Washington State . The President agreed, and DeWitt ordered the removal and Internment Of 110,000 Men, Women And Children Of Japanese Ancestry (75% of whom were American-born citizens) from their homes to internment camps. He stated that "a Jap is a Jap" whether they were citizens of the United States or not. Less known is DeWitt's role in supervising the combat operations in the Aleutian Islands , some of which had been invaded by Japanese forces. At the end of his tenure as head of Western Defense Command, he was appointed as the Commandant of the Army and Navy Staff College in Washington. He retired from the Army in 1947. POST-RETIREMENT In 1954, DeWitt became a full General by order of Congress for his services in World War II. General DeWitt died of a heart attack at the age of 82 in Washington, D.C. on June 20 , 1962 , and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery . REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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