Military service

The story of Japanese Americans in the military during World War II is complex and in many ways ironic. It is a story of mistrust by the very country for which these soldiers placed themselves in harms' way. Many were drafted directly out of the camps and fought for democracy abroad while their parents and families were incarcerated by their own government.

Military service (530)

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img Nisei soldier sitting on an army truck (ddr-densho-5-34)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-5-34/

img Young Nisei man with dog (ddr-densho-5-25)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-5-25/

img Two Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-5-22)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-5-22/

img Reunion of Nisei veterans (ddr-densho-8-4)

General David A. Bramlett, a keynote speaker at the reunion of Nisei veterans.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-8-4/

img Memorial service, reunion of Nisei veterans (ddr-densho-8-2)

This service took place at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-8-2/

img Woman and soldier (ddr-densho-258-34)

A woman standing next to a man in a military uniform outside. Caption below: "1943."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-258-34/

img Shizue and Yukio (ddr-densho-258-128)

A man in a military uniform standing with his arm around a woman. Caption below: "Shizue and Yukio."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-258-128/

img Senator Daniel Inouye, reunion of Nisei veterans (ddr-densho-14-3)

Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii speaks at the unveiling of the Brothers in Valor memorial monument, which honors Nisei soldiers.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-14-3/

img German military plane (ddr-densho-22-48)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-22-48/

img Soldiers at the 215th Quartermaster Depot (ddr-densho-22-67)

Caption in album: "215th QM Depot / Nuremberg / Separated to the new job in the army as changes took place to an army of occupation rather than a fighting army. Our new job was to be with the Quartermaster rear eschalon at Nuremberg."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-22-67/

img Funeral for Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-37-733)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-733/

img Military volunteers (ddr-densho-37-663)

Original WRA caption: Volunteers for induction into the U.S. Army to serve in a special combat team of Japanese-Americans. At foot of flag pole stand H.L. Stafford, project director and right, Philip Schafer, assistant project director.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-663/

img Japanese American military volunteers (ddr-densho-37-669)

Original WRA caption: The three Onodera brothers volunteer for the Army while the entire family looks on. Front row: Mr. And Mrs. Toyosuke Onodera, Satoru, Sergeant Carl E. Teurk, Back Row: Fumi, Yutaka, Kaun, Ko, Lieut. Stanley D. Arnold, Sergeant Eugene F. Jenrick and Sergeant Akira Kato.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-669/

doc Citation for the army commendation medal (ddr-densho-271-1)

Notification of a U.S. army commendation for Kiwamu Tshuchida's distinguished service in Japan from April, 1960 to June, 1964.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-271-1/

doc Jap-Americans Refuse to Drill (March 22, 1944) (ddr-densho-56-1031)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 22, 1944, p. 12

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1031/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 97 (December 3, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-234)

"JACL to Submit Memo to U.S. on Claims Matter" (p. 1), "Wash. State Bonus Queries Clarified" (p. 1), "If You Have Any Evacuation Claims, File Before Jan. 2, ADC Suggests" (p. 1)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-234/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 47 (July 8, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-35)

"Fights Use of Japanese in Job Classification" (p. 1), "ADC Receives New Version of H.R. 3999" (p. 1), "NVC Supports Measure on Citizenship" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-35/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 24 (March 13, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-94)

"Center Blaze Sufferers Get Loss Claims" (p. 1), "Nisei War Memorial Army Raises $1,623 Here" (p. 1), "Union Membership Sought for Issei" (p. 2), "Fights Seizure of Alien's Land for War Claims" (p. 4).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-94/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 44 (June 24, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-32)

"Nisei Veterans as Civies Face Job Bias, Masaoka Declares" (p. 1), "Inquiries on Marrying Japanese Girls Swamp Army Headquarters in Tokyo" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-32/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 83 (October 6, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-145)

"Army Return of GI Dead Hits Peak" (pg. 1), "Official U.S. Printed Forms For Use in Filing Evacuation Claims Due About October 15" (pg. 1)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-145/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 35 (April 30, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-202)

"JACL ADC Urges "Positive Action' to End All Segregation in Army" (p. 1), "We're Over Top in ADC Drive, Treasurer Says" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-202/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 88, No. 2027 (January 26, 1979) (ddr-pc-51-3)

Selected article titles: "I. Magnin, Joseph Magnin Urging Kenzo Label Change" (p. 1), "Yankee Samurai: Secret Role of Nisei in America's Pacific Victory" (pp. 1, 9-12), "Japan's Pearl Harbor Spy Saw Evacuation as 'Cruel Joke'" (p. 2), and "Min Yasui Letters: From the Multnomah Jail" (p. 5).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-51-3/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 102, No. 25 (June 27, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-25)

Edition contains Travel Section, TS 1-4, between pages 6 and 7. Selected article titles: "'Victory in Sight,' Congressmen Tell Redress Supporters" (pp. 1, 8), "JA Groups Support Navajo Cause" (pp. 1, 10), "Japanese Australian Colonies 'Discovered': Australian Relates WW2 Heroics of Nisei Divers Raiding Manila Bay" (TS 3), and "Breaking Down Barriers" (p. 10).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-58-25/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 123, No. 8 (October 18-31, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-20)

Selected article titles: "Immigration Bill Softens Impact of Welfare Reform" (pp. 1, 11), "Congress Passes Land Transfer Bill for Manzanar Site and JA Patriotism Memorial" (p. 1), "MIS Pushes Search for Medal of Honor Awards" (p. 5), and "Personally Speaking: Historic Northern California Nisei Baseball Artifacts on Display" (p. 6).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-68-20/

doc The Kinkatis News Vol. I No. 5 (ddr-densho-280-114)

Selected article titles: "China Remains Tense" (p. 1), "GI Bill of Rights Revised" (p. 1), "Views of the News" (p. 2), "Sports Round Up" (p. 3), "Special Service" (p. 4), "Song of the Kinkaid" (p. 4).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-280-114/