Day 178: Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery, Desha, Arkansas

📌APIA Every Day (178) - The Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery, located in Desha County, Arkansas, is one of the few remaining Japanese American incarceration site cemeteries in the U.S. Established during World War II, the cemetery was built by Japanese Americans incarcerated at the Rohwer Relocation Center from 1942 to 1945 [See Day 160 Post]. It features several monuments, including those honoring Japanese American soldiers who were drafted during the war. The cemetery includes historic monuments, concrete headstones, entrance markers, and a bench, all designed and constructed by the incarcerated Japanese Americans. Additionally, 17 flowering cherry trees were planted in 1994 to replicate the original design, which included water features and bridges.

In 1945, two large concrete monuments were erected in the Rohwer Memorial Cemetery. The first monument, adorned with floral patterns and artwork reflective of Japanese and American cultures, was dedicated to all those who died while incarcerated at the center. The second monument commemorates the young men from Rohwer who served and died in Europe as part of the U.S. Army’s 100th Battalion and 442nd Combat Team. In 1982, a granite monument with a bronze eagle was added to honor both Japanese American incarcerees and soldiers who died during the war. The cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark a decade later in 1992 and has been preserved and documented through grants and efforts from various organizations, ensuring its history and significance are not forgotten.

When Rohwer officially closed in 1945, its buildings were auctioned off and removed, with the land repurposed for agriculture. Most of the Japanese Americans left Arkansas, either returning to the West Coast or relocating elsewhere in the U.S. A total of 168 Japanese Americans died at Rohwer, with those who chose burial laid to rest in the Rohwer Memorial Cemetery. Today, only the cemetery and a deteriorating smokestack from the hospital remain of the original center, serving as a reminder of the tragic events that occurred not only at this site but also at the nearby Jerome incarceration camp.

LEARN MORE:

National Park Service: Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery

Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center: History

Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Rohwer Relocation Center

Historical Marker Database: Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery

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