Analysis of letter written by Willametta Turnepseed to her fiance Burton Jay Smith on September 1, 1944, the same day he died in World War II

Kerns, Elise

English

Iowa Research Online

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Archives Alive
10-29-2014
The Last Letter
Elise Kerns
University of Iowa
Copyright © 2014 Elise Kerns
Hosted by Iowa Research Online. For more information please contact: lib-ir@uiowa.edu.
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Patriotism and Plays 
Rhetorical Analysis: 
I analyzed a letter from an archive put together by Evelyn Corrie 
Birkby. She compiled documents including letters from a Japanese-
American soldier she met at a Military Intelligence Service Language 
School, Camp Savage. The soldier, Sergeant Richard Hayashi, wrote 
her on November 17, 1942 close to his graduation from Camp 
Savage, in Savage, Minnesota. Hayashi was studying to be a 
Japanese linguist and would be involved with activities like 
overseas interrogations. Sergeant Hayashi went on to serve both in 
the South Pacific and Europe. 
Hayashi's letter illustrates American unity through patriotic diction. 
Hayashi says he does not care where he serves after graduation as 
long as he keeps the "...good old American flag flying over this 
beautiful country..." The American flag, a symbol of national unity, 
and the adjective "beautiful" express his pride and admiration for 
the United States. Hayashi claims the country as "my own," 
confirming his identification with America and its ideals. Hayashi 
conveys his nationalistic passion when he calls freedom's enemies 
"...worries and vermins that are gnawing on the very foundation 
that this country is founded on..." He expresses utter loathing for 
opposing forces. Hayashi wants to annihilate these "pests" from the 
world, and takes great pride in having that military responsibility. 
The bold diction labels the enemy, "vermins," as nothing more than 
a nuisance. Hayashi's letter reveals his aversion for freedom's foes 
and his determination to protect freedom for America and the world. 
Hayashi emphasizes freedom as something worth fighting for, and 
that all people value liberties. "...I think that there is no man on 
earth who doesn't treasure this 'Freedom'..." Hayashi understands 
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freedom as a commonplace for many nations worldwide. He prizes 
his homeland liberties, but also makes the assumption that 
surrounding societies cherish freedom. He confidently asserts the 
whole human race feels the same appreciation towards freedom as 
he does. Further, if Hayashi believes each person treasures 
freedom, each person and nation should support to defend it, 
ending the worldwide conflict. 
Hayashi's visionary mindset emerges with his focus on worldwide 
harmony. "Someday I am hoping there will exist upon this earth an 
everlasting peace." He believes international stability is possible, 
revealing his optimistic and determined personality. He makes a 
promise, "Mark my word," that this "Utopia" can become a reality. 
The short sentence displays Hayashi's intensity. His assertion 
resonates with the reader, reinforcing his intent to see this vision 
through. Hayashi proclaims his beliefs strongly and expresses them 
without doubts. Patriotism combined with his hopeful Utopian 
vision characterizes Hayashi's as a passionate and ambitious 
soldier. He trusts peace among nations can occur, and can 
undertake his military responsibilities to help create this reality. 
The letter's tone changes from friendly to passionate as Hayashi 
begins to discuss American ideals, enemies, and world peace. 
Initially, he asks Evelyn how day-to-day life is going, then 
transcends into a sermon-like speech, building energy and 
enthusiasm all the way through his Utopian vision. The tonal shift 
occurs because Hayashi begins writing about something important 
to him, which triggers fervor as he proclaims his values. Hayashi's 
discourse of "worries and vermins" leads to comments concerning 
worldwide freedom appreciation, and then provokes an inspiring 
description of world peace. Hayashi ties one belief to another, 
elevating intensity along the way. The amiable letter temporarily 
transforms to a zealous oration. Passion explodes from phrases like 
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"beautiful country," "treasures freedom," and "everlasting peace," 
making Hayashi's mindset clear-cut and understandable. Sergeant 
Hayashi's enthusiastic tone demonstrates his firm support of 
freedom and American ideals. 
Hayashi's patriotism is compelling, because he was a Nisei, a 
second generation Japanese individual. Although he was born in 
the United States, he had strong biological ties to Japan, an enemy 
Axis Power during World War II. Hayashi does not verbalize any 
support with Japan though, as he describes the opposing countries 
as "vermins." As an American citizen, Hayashi understood his 
opportunities and identified with U.S. values over Japanese culture. 
His loyalty remained exclusively with the United States. Despite 
close ethnicity with an enemy, Hayashi valiantly supported the Ally 
side of World War II. 
Historical Contextualization: 
Richard Hayashi's letter reveals how 1940s American culture 
compares to today. In his last 
paragraph, he mentions a "hit" play 
showing in Minneapolis where he 
wishes to take Evelyn. Researching this 
play, "The Corn is Green," uncovered 
Broadway's role in American society. 
Although Broadway was beginning to 
compete with television and motion 
pictures, theater in the 1940s was an 
escape from World War II. During the 
war, food rations and complete support 
of military effort were enforced. 
Americans' lives were suffocated by the 
war. In a nation with such rules and 
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regulations, theater provided a place free 
of government influence. If citizens felt 
overwhelmed by World War II's effects, 
Broadway created an outlet from their 
stress. I frequently practice the same 
technique with movies. While I watch a 
movie, I become enthralled with the plot 
and characters, forgetting the worries in 
my life outside the show. Similarly, 
Americans could use Broadway as a 
distraction from World War II. When 
Hayashi suggests taking Evelyn to "The 
Corn is Green," he may have had the same 
method in mind. Hayashi probably felt 
overwhelmed by his upcoming graduation and military 
responsibilities. Seeing this drama could offer Hayashi a temporary 
escape from his stressful lifestyle and give him something else on 
which to focus. 
There were numerous advertisements for cigarettes and alcohol in 
the show's playbills. For example, on the inside of a 1941 playbill is 
a Mount Vernon Whiskey advertisement. In comparison, a "Wicked" 
playbill from 2010 includes restaurant and MasterCard 
advertisements. Although MasterCard is a twenty-first century 
product, alcohol and tobacco would not be seen in a Broadway 
playbill today. In the 1940s, drinking and smoking had less of a 
stigma and were more socially accepted. Now, negativity associated 
with drinking and smoking comes from new knowledge. In the 
1940s, society was not aware of health risks caused by alcohol and 
tobacco. Therefore, advertising these products in a Broadway 
playbill was perfectly acceptable. Now it is known tobacco causes 
lung cancer and excessive drinking impedes brain development, but 
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in Richard Hayashi's time, drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes 
were nothing more than social activities. 
Broadway ticket prices have drastically increased since the 1940s. 
In the Cornell Daily Sun on October 8 1942, balcony tickets to "The 
Corn is Green" are advertised for $1.65. The orchestra seats 
are $2.75. In comparison, a balcony seat costs between $50.55 to 
$92.80 and an orchestra seat costs $82.55 to 
$113.30 today. According to Wolfram Alpha, $2.75 1942 U.S. 
dollars would be equivalent to $39.98 in 2014.A modern day 
orchestra seat cost much more than $39.98, demonstrating 
inflation and the effects of demand. In the twenty-first century, 
Americans have more disposable income, so more people can afford 
a Broadway ticket. In the 1940s, citizens did not have the monetary 
surplus to support entertainment spending habits. With a larger 
demand pool for tickets, the price goes up to benefit the sellers. The 
more money Americans possess, the higher the price climbs. 
Investigating "The Corn is Green" revealed social and economic 
differences between the 1940s and now. During Hayashi's time, 
smoking and drinking advertisements were published in a public 
document and a ticket was a small fraction of the current price. 
However, in both eras, entertainment offers an escape from 
everyday stress. In the 1940s, citizens desired a diversion from the 
war's rations and constant influence. Plays boosted their morale, 
damaged by the horror happening on the home front and overseas. 
Today, Americans can use Broadway to flee job or family stress. 
Entertainment remains a timeless method of decompressing and 
experiencing a world apart from real-life. 
Written By: Samantha Zishka 
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References: 
"Broadway in the 1940's." Broadway in the 1940's. N.p., n.d. Web. 
01 Mar. 2014. 
"The Cornell Daily Sun 8 October 1942 — The Cornell Daily 
Sun." The Cornell Daily Sun 8 October 1942 — The Cornell Daily 
Sun. Cornell University Library, 2014. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. 
"Details about  Ethel Barrymore Mildred Dunnick Charles Pursell 
The Corn Is Green 1941 Playbill." EBay. N.p., 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 
2014. 
"Experimental Feature." Wolfram|Alpha: Computational Knowledge 
Engine. Wolfram Alpha LLC, 2014. Web. 06 Mar. 2014. 
McNaughton, James C. "Nisei Linguists Japanese Americans in the 
Military Intelligence Service during World War II." Military 
Bookshop., 1 Mar 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. 
"The Phantom of the Opera (Touring)." Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster, 
2014. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. 
"PLAYBILL." The Corn Is Green Inside The Playbill on Broadway. 
N.p., 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. 
"PLAYBILL." Wicked Inside The Playbill on Broadway. N.p., 2014. 
Web. 02 Mar. 2014. 
"World War II." World War II. City of Savage, 8 January 2014. Web. 
02 Mar. 2014. 
"World War II Scrapbook, 1942-1944." Omeka RSS. University of 
Iowa Libraries, 2012. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. 
Prezi: 
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The Last Letter

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