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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 (240)
Military service (3289)

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3289 items

img [Mini-reunion, Colonel Pi__] (ddr-csujad-1-152)

A photograph of Colonel Pi__ and his wife Peggy, "C" Company. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101195-94." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_078

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-152/

img [Men in military uniform splitting firewood] (ddr-csujad-1-43)

A group of Japanese American men in military uniform is pictured. One of them splits firewood. The inscription on back of photograph reads, "your Christmas ____ ____." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_037

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-43/

img [Mini-reunion, Wally Kagawa, Ernie Maruyama, Shiro Yamamoto, Roy Nishio, Chappie Kishaba] (ddr-csujad-1-101)

A photograph of Wally Kagawa, Ernie Maruyama, Shiro Yamamoto, Roy Nishio, and Chappie Kishaba. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101095-37." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_027

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-101/

img [Mini-reunion, room] (ddr-csujad-1-176)

A photograph of attendees in a hotel room. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101295-145." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_102

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-176/

img [Men in military uniform] (ddr-csujad-1-31)

Two men in military uniform pose together outside a building. One is a Japanese American man wearing a helmet and the other is wearing a military cap. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_025

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-31/

img [Men in military uniform and women from American Red Cross] (ddr-csujad-1-10)

Two men and two women are photographed. One of the men poses holding a cup. The other man stands back and two women from what might be the American Red Cross provide food supplies. A military vehicle with a white star and circle Allied Forces symbol is parked in front of a building. See this object …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-10/

img [Mini-reunion, group photograph] (ddr-csujad-1-163)

A photograph includes attendees with beer bottles on the table. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101195-108." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_089

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-163/

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from Miyeko Imamura (December 16, 1942) (ddr-janm-1-64)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from Miyeko Imamura (December 16, 1942). Envelope is postmarked February 20, 1943 from the Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp in Cody, Wyoming.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-64/

img [Men in military uniform] (ddr-csujad-1-24)

Two men in military uniform pose together outside. One stands and the other sits on a military vehicle. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_018

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-24/

img [Mini-reunion, Toro Hirose, Tak Hattori, Eddie Murakami] (ddr-csujad-1-104)

A photograph of Toro Hirose, Tak Hattori, and Eddie Murakami. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101095-38." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_030

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-104/

img [Mini-reunion, group photograph] (ddr-csujad-1-123)

A group photograph of attendees. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101095-60." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_049

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-123/

img [Man in military uniform washing hair] (ddr-csujad-1-7)

A Japanese-American man in military uniform poses next to a military truck while washing hair. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-7/

img [Mini-reunion] (ddr-csujad-1-136)

A photograph of attendees. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101195-78." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_062

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-136/

doc Letter from Minoru Kishaba to Henry Y. Ikemoto with an 8th grader's letter (ddr-csujad-1-69)

Contains a letter from Minoru Kishaba to Henry Y. Ikemoto with an envelope, and a letter from an 8th grader at Sunnyside Middle School, Lafayette, Indiana, with an article on their school project. In the letter, the 8th grader discusses their school project of creating a tapestry dedicated to Japanese American WWII veterans and requests help …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-69/

img [Men in military uniform with military vehicle] (ddr-csujad-1-41)

Three Japanese American men in military uniform, standing and talking near a building, are pictured. A military vehicle is included. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_035

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-41/

img [Mini-reunion, speech] (ddr-csujad-1-137)

A photograph of an attendee. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101195-81." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_063

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-137/

doc Letter from Shirley Cobb, [volunteer], American Red Cross, to Kune Hisatomi, Pfc., U.S. Army, [July 27, 1945?] (ddr-csujad-1-1)

V-mail from Shirley Cobb, American Red Cross volunteer, to Kune Hisatomi, Pfc., U.S. Army. Shirley Cobb described her work: She worked at an airport in Florence, Italy. She learned that Kune also stayed in Italy and tried to locate him. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_01_001

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

img [Men in military uniform with military vehicle] (ddr-csujad-1-39)

Two Japanese American men in military uniform are pictured. One is facing camera, holding a book and leaning toward a military vehicle. The other is facing back, sitting on the vehicle. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_033

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-39/

img [Mini-reunion, Seiya Tanaka, Wally Kagawa, Toro Hirose] (ddr-csujad-1-90)

A photograph of Seiya Tanaka, Wally Kagawa, and Toro Hirose. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "100995-21." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-90/

img [Man in military uniform with military vehicle] (ddr-csujad-1-34)

A Japanese American man in military uniform poses next to a military vehicle. On front of photograph, there is handwritten inscription. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_028

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-34/

img [Men in military uniform and women with bicycles] (ddr-csujad-1-12)

Two Japanese American men in military uniform and two women pose together. Women stand with bicycles. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_01_02_006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-12/

img [Mini-reunion, room] (ddr-csujad-1-172)

A photograph of attendees in a hotel room. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101295-141." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_098

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-172/

img [Mini-reunion, group photograph] (ddr-csujad-1-124)

A group photograph of attendees. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "101095-58." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_050

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-124/

doc Chronology (ddr-csujad-1-55)

Lists the actions of Anti-Tank Company chronologically form August 15 through October 11, 1944. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_02_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-55/

img [Mini-reunion, Kuni Hisatomi and Shiro Yamamoto] (ddr-csujad-1-86)

A photograph includes Kuni Hisatomi and Shiro Yamamoto. Recorded number on the back side of the photograph: "100995-17." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ike_02_08_012

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-1-86/