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

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1145 items
The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 22 (March 25, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-9)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 22 (March 25, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-9)
"Text of Masaoka's Speech : Clarifies Japanese-American Situation" (p. 1), "Seeks Linguists" (p. 1)
The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 24 (April 1, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-10)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 24 (April 1, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-10)
"Nisei Vets Will Choose Officers Fri." (p. 1), "Seek MILS Men" (p. 1), "Urge Repeal in U.S. of Alien Status" (p. 2).
The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 19 (March 14, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-6)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 19 (March 14, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-6)
"Alaska Cannery Contract Talks Start" (p. 1), "House Unit Halts Bills Preventing Alien Deportation" (p. 1), "Army Seeks More Nisei GI's to Aid Occupation of Japan" (p. 1), "Republican Majority Votes to Kill State FEPC Bill" (p. 2).
The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 31 (April 7, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-100)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 31 (April 7, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-100)
"Brief Raps Calif. Bill "Sheer' Bias" (p. 1), "Resignation of President Rojo from Local 7 Stirs Up Confusion Among Cannery Workers' Ranks" (p. 1), "U.S. Intelligence Officer Lauds Work of Nisei GI's in Japan War" (p. 1).
The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 3 (January 10, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-2)
doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 3 (January 10, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-2)
"U.S. Court Hears Status of 5,500 Nisei" (p. 1), "Seeks Passage of Claims Bill" (p. 1), "M.I.S. Grads Total 2,675 in Monterey" (p. 1).
Volunteers for the Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-22-77)
img Volunteers for the Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-22-77)
Caption in album: "Volunteers please / Just prior to V-J day came a survey of Volunteers was made for the Camp Savage (later Fort Snelling) language school for men to ship to go to school and on to Japan to fight. Here the two above photos show as the volunteers were made ready to leave for …
View down a street in Germany (ddr-densho-22-78)
img View down a street in Germany (ddr-densho-22-78)
Caption in album: "Volunteers please / Just prior to V-J day came a survey of Volunteers was made for the Camp Savage (later Fort Snelling) language school for men to ship to go to school and on to Japan to fight. Here the two above photos show as the volunteers were made ready to leave for …
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