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 (283)
Military service (4287)

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4287 items

doc Postcard to Mrs. & Mrs. Y. Ishida from John Miyasaki (ddr-densho-535-409)

Change of address form

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-409/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-121)

Tad got paid: "my wallet is fat again." The company went to the firing range that day. Later, Tad and Shiro saw "This Man's Navy", which was "a good typical [Wallace] Beery show." Parents' note on envelope back: 124 Saturday Feb 3, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-121/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-97)

From Camp Blanding bivouac. Tad describes a drill his squad did the night before. Parents' note on envelope back: 100 Monday Dec. 18, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-97/

doc Letter from Robert Yatabe to Mrs. Y. Ishida (ddr-densho-535-418)

He is currently in France; tells her to tell Tad to try to join the 442nd band; he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel but it doesn't bother him; visited Nice recently and had a good time; asks if she can send any Japanese food.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-418/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-145)

Parents' note on envelope back: 148 Wednesday Feb 28, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-145/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-340)

Got six letters and a package with sunglasses; hears that Bob (Yatabe) is going to be a father; teases them about talking about when he will get married and have a family; is going to Florence soon to pick up the tea set. Parents' note on envelope back: 343 Wednesday March 27, 1946 Request for magazines …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-340/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-90)

Tad and company did an obstacle course under machine gun fire that day. They also practiced moving between houses in a mock village. Parents' note on envelope back: 93 Monday Dec. 11, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-90/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-272)

They were issued captured German sleeping bags made of some kind of animal skin; Tad is going to have a jacket made from one; saw a show at Leghorn (Livorno);still waiting for orders. Parents' note on envelope back: 274 Wednesday Oct. 24, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-272/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-60)

Tad and company learned how to shoot a 30 caliber machine gun; drawing included. 62 Friday, Nov. 10, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-60/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-388)

Went to Rome for a couple of days; Henry Fukui came to the cemetery to visit graves of men he knew; hopes to be able to get a car when he gets home. Parents' note on envelope back: 391 Thursday Aug. 22, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-388/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-385)

Leaving on a trip to Grosseto with Ryo soon; spent a day in Leghorn (Livorno); saw John Miyasaki in Florence; assumes Terry (Shimabukuro) will be at their house. Parents' note on envelope back: 388 Tuesday Aug. 13, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-385/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-96)

From Camp Blanding bivouac. Written on Wednesday night and Thursday morning; the Thursday portion of the letter details a surprise gas attack drill the company had the night before. Parents' note on envelope back: 99 Monday Dec. 18, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-96/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-39)

Another day at the firing range, where Tad scored high enough to be placed in the top quarter. Tad has kitchen duty the next day: "Boy, am I mad!" Parents' note on envelope back: (40) Tuesday Oct. 17, 1944 A.M.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-39/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-134)

Two check-in letters: one from the train to New York, another from the new camp. Includes Tad's new address in New York. He says that from now on his letters will be censored, so he can't say too much (he says the name and location of his new camp a few sentences later, which is censored). …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-134/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-274)

Still waiting for orders; asks for $20 so if he goes to Switzerland he can buy a watch; asks if they have found a house and how long they might stay there. Parents' note on envelope back: 276 Thursday Oct. 25, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-274/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-213)

Tad played during parade for 4th of July, rented a boat and went swimming in the afternoon. Parents' note on envelope back: 215 Saturday July 14, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-213/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-27)

Tad says Jacksonville is quite crowded and a good deal bigger than Salt Lake City. Says the locals were very friendly towards him and his friends, but he was upset by the racism he witnessed towards the Black population: "they sure treat the Negroes like dirt." While Tad was away, Zane Shironitta came to camp to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-27/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-386)

Not much happening; they may not get their promotions since they are going home; thinks he may be leaving around August 12 or 17th. Parents' note on envelope back: 389 Monday Aug. 19, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-386/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-343)

Got four letters and the package with the hair tonic; is going to Florence soon to pick up tea set; hopes they sent the cigarettes because he wants to buy the dinner set before he leaves. Parents' note on envelope back: 346 Monday April 1, 1946 Request for magazines and socks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-343/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-35)

Tad mentions that he got a letter from Aunt Tomi. The night before, he went to see the movie "Marriage is a Private Affair." Tad and his company fired their rifles for the first time, which he describes in detail. Includes a few drawings of the firing range. Ends with another funny story about Ted Matsushima. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-35/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-362)

Thinking of going to the military cemetery for memorial day with Ryo (Uchida); Ryo is working the newspaper by himself, so Tad is helping write some articles; tell them not to believe what they hear about the 442nd coming come. Parents' note on envelope back: 364 Friday June 7,1946 Request for magazines and cigarettes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-362/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-132)

Parents' note on envelope back: 135 Thursday Feb 15, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-132/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-104)

Parents' note on envelope back: 107 Wednesday Jan 3, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-104/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-353)

Going to a movie tonight; got two letters from them; he and Terry (Shimabukuro) play badminton every night; missing seeing movies in a regular theater. Parents' note on envelope back: 356 Monday April 29, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-353/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-109)

Tad thinks John Miyasaki is in Maryland now, but he isn't sure. Life at camp "sure is lazy" compared to before (they get up late - 7 a.m.). Parents' note on envelope back: 112 Saturday Jan. 6, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-109/