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.

World War II (231)
Military service (2806)

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2806 items

img Takeo Isoshima with lion statue (ddr-densho-477-138)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima in military uniform standing next to a lion statue.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-138/

img Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-136)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima sitting in front of a white stone building wearing a military uniform. The caption below the photo reads "Takeo" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-136/

img Takeo Isoshima in uniform (ddr-densho-477-134)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima in military uniform, posting with a gun. Written in the lower right corner is: "5/28/42" in blue ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-134/

img Isoshima Family with Brigadier General and Mrs. McMahon (ddr-densho-477-181)

Photograph of Mitsuko, Naomi, and Elaine Isoshima with Brigadier-General McMahon with another woman in a head wrap, posing for a portrait. The photo looks like an excerpt from a larger group photo. The caption below the photo reads "Mrs & Brig Gen" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-181/

img Takeo Isoshima in uniform (ddr-densho-477-141)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima in uniform staring at the camera, hands on hips. Text at bottom of album page reads "Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-141/

doc Letter to Takeo Isoshima from Frederic L. Hayden (ddr-densho-477-182)

Thank you letter with photograph to Takeo Isoshima from Brigadier General Frederic L. Hayden.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-182/

img Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-149)

Portrait of Takeo Isoshima in uniform.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-149/

img Army Barracks (ddr-densho-477-145)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-145/

img Brig. Gen. John McMahon 1945 (ddr-densho-477-180)

Photograph of Brigadier-General John McMahon. The caption below the photo reads "Brig. Gen. John McMahon 1945" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-180/

img Takeo Isoshima in uniform (ddr-densho-477-148)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima in uniform. The writing on the photo reads "5/28/42" in blue ink. The caption below the photo reads "Takeo Isoshima (Private) / Co. "C" - 3rd Platoon / 68th Training Battalion / 14th Training Regiment / Camp Robinson, Arkansas" in white ink

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-148/

doc Takeo Isoshima's military discharge paperwork (ddr-densho-477-190)

Takeo Isoshima's military discharge paperwork.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-190/

img Isoshima Family (ddr-densho-477-188)

Takeo Isoshima (right) in uniform poses with his two daughters, Naomi (left) and Elaine (center).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-188/

img Colonel & Mrs. FL Hayden (ddr-densho-477-183)

Inscription on photograph: "For Tack With appreciation Colonel & Mrs. FL Hayden" in black ink

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-183/

img Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-142)

Photograph of a Takeo Isoshima looking down from a raised porch. The inscription on the photo reads "9/12/42" in blue ink. Caption on the album page reads: "Army Cook" in black ink. Text at bottom of album page reads "Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-142/

doc Postcard from Takeo Isoshima to Mitzi (Nakahara) Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-140)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-140/

img Takeo Isoshima and others (ddr-densho-477-135)

Photograph of three men in uniform standing in front of a backdrop of an American Airlines plane. Takeo Isoshima stands on the far right. The caption below the photo reads "drafted into US. Army" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-135/

doc CASC Unit mail record card (ddr-densho-477-139)

The card informs the recipient that Takeo Isoshima was accepted into military service, he is to be sent to Monterey, California for 3-4 days and that the recipient will be advised of his updated mailing address.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-139/

doc Postcard from Mitzi (Nakahara) Isoshima to Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-143)

Postcard in both English and Japanese. English portion discusses crossing the Snake River Canyon on the way to Minidoka. Japanese portion is not translated.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-143/

img Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-131)

Photograph of a Takeo Isoshima in a military uniform.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-131/

img Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-137)

Photograph of Takeo Isoshima in his military dress uniform with his arms crossed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-137/

img Cook Tent (ddr-densho-477-146)

Photograph of army cook tent. There are several large pots of food cooking.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-146/

img Takeo Isoshima with military friends (ddr-densho-477-144)

Photograph of three men in military uniforms in from of a brick building. From left to right: Kikuchi, Tanaka, and Takeo Isoshima. Written along the bottom of the photograph is: "Kikuchi - Tanaka - Takeo 9/12/42 Takeo" in blue ink. The caption below the photo reads "Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana" in black ink.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-144/

doc Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)

A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-469-9/

doc Postcard from Sgt. Frank Honda to Iku Morita (ddr-densho-497-1)

Postcard of Roma, Ponte Vittoria.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-497-1/

doc In the Service (ddr-densho-496-2)

Written account from Kazuyoshi Kawata about his time serving in the Army of the U.S.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-496-2/