Military Intelligence Service

The first Japanese Americans to serve in the military during World War II were linguists involved in the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). The MISLS was charged with training soldiers in the Japanese language for intelligence purposes. Japanese Americans served as both instructors and students at the school, which opened on November 1, 1941. The Language School began recruiting instructors and later students directly from concentration camps as early as July 1942. MISLS graduates were assigned in small teams to units fighting in the Pacific and to intelligence centers throughout the Allied command. They translated captured documents, interrogated prisoners of war, wrote propaganda, encouraged Japanese soldiers and civilians to surrender, and monitored radio broadcasts. After the war, they acted as interpreters at the war crime trials and for the occupation government in Japan.

World War II (231)
Military service (2806)
Military Intelligence Service (1145)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
John Aiso, Fort Snelling, Masaji Marumoto, Jack Matsuoka, Military Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence Service Language School, Walter Tsukamoto, Karl Yoneda

Facilities
Format
Genre
Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

1145 items
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 63, No. 12 (September 16, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-37)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 63, No. 12 (September 16, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-37)
Select article titles: "Gen. Willoughby to address MIS veteran reunion" (p. 1); "Issei, Nisei Image in Japan Valuable, Says Professor" (p. 1); "Chicago Nisei Drum & Bugle Corps Ambassadors create goodwill on tour" (p. 1).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 74, No. 21 (June 2, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-21)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 74, No. 21 (June 2, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-21)
Selected article titles: "Nikkei Family Victims of Verbal Abuse by Owner of Beaumont Cherry Orchard" (p.1), "Agenda Papers Pepper Chapters" (p.1, 3), "PSWDC in Bid for $8,000 to Fund Welfare Group" (p.3), "Pride and Faith Personified: Nisei of MISLS" (p.5), "City Hall Jeopardizes Little Tokyo's Future" (p.8).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 26 (December 16, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-49)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 26 (December 16, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-49)
Selected article titles: "Outstanding Chemists to Be Honored" (p.1-2), "Predict Most Vietnam Refugees to Be at Work" (p.1-2), "The Day I Quit Judo" (p.4), "Equal Opportunity in California-A New Era" (p.5), "Women in JACL" (p.7).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 89, No. 2052 (July 20, 1979) (ddr-pc-51-28)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 89, No. 2052 (July 20, 1979) (ddr-pc-51-28)
Selected article titles: "Mineta Lauds Nisei MIS Role During WW2 in Pacific Theater" (pp. 1, 7), "Major Cutback in Whaling Approved" (p. 1), "J. William Fulbright Says: Japan Acquires Secret for Humanity: Make Cultural Development, Not War" (p. 2), and "Ex-Kamikaze Pilot Teaches English to Foreign Students at Michigan State" (p. 8).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 6 (August 6, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-31)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 6 (August 6, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-31)
Selected article titles: "Japan Revision of WW2 History Angers Neighbor Asian Nations" (pp. 1, 6), "Congressional Subcommittee Approves $300,000 for CWRIC" (pp. 1-2), "Justice Dept. Says Japan Firms 'Conspired' to Raise Prices" (p. 1), and "From the Frying Pan: Time to Bury the 'Secrecy Myth' of MIS" (p. 5).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 3 (July 16, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-28)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 3 (July 16, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-28)
Selected article titles: "IBM Case Adds Friction to U.S.-Japan Trade" (pp. 1, 5), "Mineta Urges Fifth Preference to Remain in Immigration Law" (pp. 1, 4), "Census: 5,000 in U.S. Turn 65 Years of Age Every Day" (pp. 1, 8), and "Ye Editor's Desk: 100/442nd/MIS Museum Foundation" (p. 4).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 102, No. 21 (May 30, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-21)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 102, No. 21 (May 30, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-21)
Selected article titles: "Yasui Case Can Go to Appeals Court" (p. 1), "Violence Against Minorities a Serious Problem, State Commission Concludes" (pp. 1, 12), "Reporter Regrets Onizuka Remark" (pp. 2, 7), and "East Wind: America's Secret Weapon" (p. 4).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 107, No. 20 (December 23-30, 1988) (ddr-pc-60-45)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 107, No. 20 (December 23-30, 1988) (ddr-pc-60-45)
Special holiday issue divided into sections A 1-12, B 1-12, C 1-16, D 1-12, E 1-24, D 13-24, C 17-32, B 13-24, and A 13-24. Selected article titles: "The President Signs the Redress Bill" (pp. B-1-B-2), "Decision to Cooperate" (pp. C-4-C-5), "Despite Wishes of Some: Comparatively Few Internees Came from Hawaii" (pp. E-2-E-3, E-19), and "John …
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 110, No. 17 (May 4, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-17)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 110, No. 17 (May 4, 1990) (ddr-pc-62-17)
Select article titles: "In Tribute to Sen. Spark Matsunaga: 'Initiated Probably more statues of Benefit to Those of Japanese Ancestry'"(p.1);"JACL Chicago Chapter Supports American Indian Rights"(p.2); "JACL Minidoka Project Memorial to List 73 Names of Nisei War Dead"(p.3); "Okinawan MIS Veteran, Educator, Sen. Inouye's Aide Tells His Story"(p.10).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 112, No. 4 [February 1, 1991] (ddr-pc-63-4)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 112, No. 4 [February 1, 1991] (ddr-pc-63-4)
Select article titles: "Civil Liberties of Arab Americans in U.S. May Be Threatened by FBI, Mineta Warns" (p. 1), San Fernando Valley Japanese School Plagued by Vandals; Racism Not Seen" (p. 1), "MISLS Graduates: Caucasians Completing Studies Were Commissioned, but Not Nisei" (p. 2).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 114, No. 1 (January 3-10, 1992) (ddr-pc-64-1)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 114, No. 1 (January 3-10, 1992) (ddr-pc-64-1)
Select article titles: "1991- A year of hate crimes" (p. 1); "Mistaken for Korean, Thai women is beaten" (p. 1); "Man sues for false arrest in temple murders" (p.1); "Nisei in the Military Intelligence" (p. 6).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 6 (August 27-September 2, 1993) (ddr-pc-65-31)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 6 (August 27-September 2, 1993) (ddr-pc-65-31)
Select article titles: "JACL calls for investigation in shooting death of Japanese student" (p. 1); "Discussing the...'Real World of Asians'" (p. 1); "Senate fails to include funds for redress education" (p. 1).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 17 (November 12-18,1993) (ddr-pc-65-42)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 17 (November 12-18,1993) (ddr-pc-65-42)
Select article titles: "Japan-Louisiana group formed in response to Hattori tragedy" (p. 1); "Arrest made in Sacramento firebombings" (p. 1); "University newsletter's cartoon called racist" (p. 1); "Monument placed at first MIS School site" (p. 3).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 122, No. 6 (March 15-April 4, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-6)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 122, No. 6 (March 15-April 4, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-6)
Selected article titles: "PC Editorial Board to Seek Return to Weekly" (pp. 1, 10), "Oahu Monument Honors 100th, 442nd, MIS Vets" (p. 3), "Bill to Make English Official Language Opposed" (p. 3), and "East Wind: Asian Americans in Politics" (pp. 8, 11).
Pacific Citizen, Vol. 123, No. 10 (November 15-December 19, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-22)
doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 123, No. 10 (November 15-December 19, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-22)
Selected article titles: "National Day of Remembrance Planned in D.C. Feb. 19, 1997" (pp. 1, 12), "Study: Most Asians Americans in Bay Area Voted for Clinton, Against Proposition 209" (pp. 1, 12), "New Board Steadies Eye on JACL's Fiscal Integrity" (p. 1), and "East Wind: 'Other MISers'" (pp. 8, 12).
Barracks building (ddr-ajah-2-776)
img Barracks building (ddr-ajah-2-776)
Caption: Joe Iwataki's barracks at Camp Crowder, Missouri, April 8 to October 1942. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-380 with additional notes
Sunken ships in bay (ddr-ajah-2-670)
img Sunken ships in bay (ddr-ajah-2-670)
Caption below photo: Japanese Ships sunk in the bay
Inside of barracks with cots (ddr-ajah-2-802)
img Inside of barracks with cots (ddr-ajah-2-802)
Caption: Barracks 10, where some of the "Sensei" or instructors of Japanese language were housed at Camp Savage, Minnesota. They were there to teach Japanese American Niseis as part of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. October 1942-October 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-431 with additional notes.
Man reading at table (ddr-ajah-2-793)
img Man reading at table (ddr-ajah-2-793)
Caption: Lincoln T. Taira studies at Camp Savage, Minnesota, as a member of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), October 1942-June 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-497 with additional notes
Two men sitting on bench in garden (ddr-ajah-2-786)
img Two men sitting on bench in garden (ddr-ajah-2-786)
Caption: While at Camp Crowder, Missouri, Dick Otsubo of Stockton, CA., and pal Joe Iwataki (at right) of alameda, CA., pose somewhere on the grounds, which they jokingly referred to as "Jimmy Kusuda's garden". Kusuda was another army friend stationed there. Unfortunately, Otsubo died in Italy during WWII. Photo August 26, 1942. Inscription on back: Aug. …
API