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 (4309)

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4309 items

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-283)

Got packages from them including Christmas presents, and from Obisan and Ojisan (aunt and uncle) with a lot of Japanese food; he is busy with his office job which includes driving to Leghorn (Livorno) for the morning papers. Parents' note on envelope back: 285 Monday Nov 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-283/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-398)

He and Ryo are back from Venice, they had a good time he should be leaving the beginning of October. Parents' note on envelope back: 401 Wed. Oct. 9, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-398/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-15)

Tad says that he received a letter from his grandfather. Also mentions that he got a haircut that looks just like when Okamoto-san would cut his hair. Tad and "the gang" are planning to go to Jacksonville if they get the weekend off, and Tad is a bit worried about running out of money; he says …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-15/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-49)

Tad is now responsible for 12 men; being promoted to corporal means a good deal more responsibility. The day before, Tad's company had "lessons in jungle warfare," which he describes in detail. Includes a drawing of one of the obstacles they had to cross. Parents' note on envelope back: (50) Saturday Oct 28, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-49/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-226)

Tad requested his olive drab uniform (shirt and trousers) as he may be getting a five-day pass soon and planed to have photo taken with the uniform with all his ribbon and combat badge. Parents' note on envelope back: 228 Tuesday Aug 7, 1945 request for pants and shirt

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-226/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-379)

He doesn't do much when he works in the office; the Lieutenant things he and Ryo (Uchida) are the only two with any intelligence, is recommending them for a promotion; Terry (Shimabukuro) should be back in San Francisco by now. Parents' note on envelope back: 382 Friday July 26, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-379/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-249)

Tad was confident that he would be home by next birthday, and noted that, as he gained more experience in veterinary training with horses and mules, he had grown fond of the horses, finding them "just like dogs". Parents' note on envelope back: 251 Friday Sept. 14, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-249/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-32)

Tad says they had their first go at the obstacle course in camp. Parents' note on envelope back: (33) Monday Oct. 9, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-32/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-168)

Tad describes training and hike through the countryside; Tad enclosed an April 11, 1945 Stars and Stripes (Mediterranean) newspaper clipping featuring victory of Nisei regiment. Parents' note on envelope back: 171 Thursday April 19, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-168/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-253)

Check-in letter from Italy: Tad had the shirt they sent altered; wondering why he hasn't gotten many letters lately; will write to some friends; asks for socks and magazines. Parents' note on envelope back: 255 Sept 29, 1945 Saturday request for magazines and socks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-253/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-3)

Another check-in from Memphis en route to Florida. Mentions that local Black populations were treated poorly and forced to sit in separate train cars. Parents' note on envelope back: (4) Saturday Sept 9, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-3/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-61)

Very short, written after a night drill (noted 1:30 AM, underlined twice). Parents' note on envelope back: 63 Monday Nov. 13, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-61/

doc V-mail from Robert Yatabe to Mrs. K (Tomi) Ishida (ddr-densho-535-408)

Tells her that he is in Italy now and has visited Naples; the ride across on the ship was fine for him, didn't get seasick; heard from Misao that she is going back to work; he is excited to become a dad soon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-408/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-225)

Tad had a busy day: traveled to Lucca and Pisa, visited the Leaning Tower in Pisa, bought some stamps, went to the USO show that night and received packages with stationary, candies, cookies and socks. Tad mailed (separately) his portrait drawn by an local artist at the Red Cross club. Parents' note on envelope back: 227 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-225/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-62)

Tad's friend Ted Matsushima left camp the day before. Tad describes a battle exercise from earlier that day. Also mentions that he's started going to separate classes at the Non-Commissioned Officer school, which will give him a better chance of a promotion after finishing basic training. Parents' note on envelope back: 64 Monday Nov. 13, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-62/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-259)

Still waiting for letters from them, went target shooting with a friend. Parents' note on envelope back: 261 Saturday Oct. 13, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-259/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-40)

Tad received photos from his parents. Asks them to send him a sweatshirt. Parents' note on envelope back: (41) Tuesday Oct. 17, 1944 P.M.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-40/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-390)

He and Ryo went out on a trip together to the area that Tad had been at the beginning of his tour; found three bodies; asks them to look up in his diary when he was in Publican, they took pictures there. Parents' note on envelope back: 393 Thursday Sept 5, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-390/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-357)

Got a packages and letters from them; surprised the To-chan plans to buy him a car, but it would be useful when he gets home; John's (Miyasaki) sister (Tsugiko Miyasaki) got married to Henry Fujita; sending a photo that John (Miyasaki) took of him. Parents' note on envelope back: Monday May 13, 1946 Request for magazines …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-357/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-55)

Tad had field exercises that day and had to call an ambulance when one of the men injured themselves. The night before, the company did night drills. Tad got paid again, $43.60 in total. Parents' note on envelope back: (57) Saturday Nov. 4, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-55/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-88)

Parents' note on envelope back: 91 Saturday Dec. 9, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-88/

doc Letter from Tad Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. T. Ishida (ddr-densho-535-419)

V-Mail sketch of Tad

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-419/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-258)

Talks about selling cigarettes to Italians to supplement Army pay. Family tagged this letter with a sticky note "selling cigarettes". Expects to move to Pisa soon; because the 442nd has priority, he will go home with the regiment when they go; asks for lighter fluid and magazines. Parents' note on envelope back: 260 Saturday Sept. 29, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-258/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-58)

Tad and John Miyasaki went to Silver Springs that day, which was "a swell trip". Includes stamps for To-chan from John. Parents' note on envelope back: 60 Wednesday Nov. 8, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-58/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-11)

Check-in letter from Camp Blanding, written in four parts throughout the day. Tad asks his parents to send him a book of his on zoology; he says "word got around that I'm a educated character on insects" and that his fellow campers ask him a lot of questions about bugs and animals. Parents' note on envelope …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-11/