DeWitt Center namesake had lead role in internment of American citizens

The Jan. 19 Auburn Journal had a front-page story about the city of Davis changing the name of Sutter Place. If the Davis story warranted front-page coverage, a local situation in North Auburn may be of even more interest to Journal readers.Placer County owns the DeWitt Center in North Auburn. It was built during World War II as an Army hospital, and apparently named in honor of Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, the Western Defense commander during World War II. Recently I read that Gen. DeWitt enthusiastically planned and implemented the infamous internment of American citizens of Japanese descent in 1942-1945. To DeWitt, the mere fact of having Japanese blood was basis enough for suspicion of "some vast conspiracy" against the United States.When I first moved to Auburn and passed through DeWitt Center, I could visualize wounded soldiers and nurses walking to the theater, gymnasium and barracks. Now, since learning about DeWitt and his lead role in the internment of American citizens, I no longer get that proud nostalgia feeling, but rather a disturbed feeling about what we, the "melting pot" of the world, did to some of our citizens simply because of their ancestry. I admire and am amazed at the uncomplaining attitude of these victims, and their hard work and dedication to recovering from the "hand they were dealt." Placer County should, from our community at least, remove one dark reminder of the past, by renaming DeWitt Center.Larry LangeAuburn