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 (277)
Military service (4131)

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4131 items

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-384)

He and Ryo are going home in August and some of the other men were postponed to August as well; got some packages and letters; saw the article in Time about the 442nd with Terry's name mentioned. Parents' note on envelope back: 387 Tuesday Aug 13, 1946 Request for magazines and candy

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-384/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-310)

No one is getting mail lately; went to Rome and ate Christmas dinner at a restaurant, ravioli, steak with mushroom and fried potatoes; asks how things are in San Francisco and in the new place. Parents' note on envelope back: 313 Tuesday Jan. 8, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-310/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-23)

Tad says that tomorrow is inspection day, so they spent a lot of time cleaning. Tad clarifies that while he still may be promoted to temporary corporal, none of the men in camp can actually be promoted since they're a "replacement group." Says that the "kids like Freddy" back home would probably love to see his …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-23/

doc V-mail from Tadashi Ishida to Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-400)

V-Mail Mother's Day Greeting. Parents' note on envelope back: Monday April 23, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-400/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-245)

Tad sent a cartoon cut from G.I. magazine. Parents' note on envelope back: 247 Wednesday Sept. 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-245/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-161)

Tad went to church on Easter Sunday and talks about picnic and card-playing with friends; Tad did not receive previously requested candies and socks so he requested more candies. Parents' note on envelope back: 164 Tuesday April 10, 1945 request

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-161/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-12)

Tad mentions that he was put on kitchen duty again, but didn't mind since he was just waiting tables. Letter is written at 10:40 PM; earlier that day, Tad and his friends went to the movies and saw "Gypsy Wildcat." Says he was able to read To-chan's Japanese letter. The letter ends with Tad asking for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-12/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-242)

Tad recounted watching prisoners butcher a euthanized horse and reflected on news reports about riots in New York and San Francisco and celebratory deaths of soldiers in Italy, after the war was ended; Tad requested magazines and socks. Parents' note on envelope back: 244 Tuesday Sept. 4, 1945 request for magazines and socks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-242/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-83)

The company went to the rifle range that day and had a lot of fun. Tad asks his parents to send him his wool scarf. Parents' note on envelope back: 86 Monday Dec. 4, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-83/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-203)

Tad started teaching bugle class today and was free of K.P. and guard duty. Parents' note on envelope back: 205 Friday June 29, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-203/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-370)

He is on the island of Elba looking for the grave of a flyer shot down there, but couldn't track it down, so spent the night before heading back; says the island is beautiful and they went swimming; since he is the ranking man in the group the others ask his permission to do anything and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-370/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-143)

Tad saw "Here Comes the Co-eds": it was "a funny picture." The food in New York is good, but Meade and Blanding were "way better." Tad isn't up to much; his barrack is "still quarantined." Parents' note on envelope back: 147 Monday Feb. 26, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-143/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-186)

Tad requested a cornet mouthpiece and some socks; Tad found a coincidence on a March 18th letter where his mother dreamed he was in France on the exact day he landed at Le Havre. Parents' note on envelope back: 188 Monday May 28 1945 request for mouthpiece

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-186/

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/