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-535-332)

Got three letters today, but packages are not coming; he is done showing training films so will be less busy. Parents' note on envelope back: 335 Tuesday March 12, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-332/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-329)

Has been very busy lately; the captain complimented his work on the inventory; He got a trumpet. Parents' note on envelope back: 332 Thursday Feb. 28, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-329/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-250)

Tad noted the movies were old American films dubbed in Italian; As he was writing, he was covering his new badge with cellophane. Parents' note on envelope back: 252 Thursday Sept. 20, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-250/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-25)

Tad led a simulated battle with his squad and won. Says that his cabin "looks like a fort" since his bunkmates are cleaning their machine gun; the letter includes a drawing of the gun. Parents' note on envelope back: (26) Tuesday Oct 3, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-25/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-118)

Check-in letter from New York City. Tad and Shiro are in town all weekend, staying at the Times Square Hotel. That night, they saw Artie Shaw and his orchestra. As for the city, Tad "never saw anything like it." Letter written at 2 a.m., but Tad says ?it's just like 6:00 p.m. right now.? Parents' note …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-118/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-113)

Mentions that Noboru Hanyu may be joining Tad's company. Tad's having some trouble writing: "My pen don't seem to work very good tonight so I'll quite [sic] even though it is a feeble excuse" Parents' note on envelope back: 116 Friday Jan. 12, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-113/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-202)

Tad went to Lecco, rowed a boat and would start teaching bugle. Parents' note on envelope back: 204 Friday June 29, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-202/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-16)

Tad says they'll start training with live grenades soon. Parents' note on envelope back: (17) Saturday Sept 23, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-16/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-297)

Pulled Charge of Quarters extra duty tonight; asks them to send addresses of friends since many have moved; was not surprised that Paul married a Caucasian; is using stationary with the 442nd emblem on it. Parents' note on envelope back: 299 Thursday Dec. 6, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-297/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-327)

Writing from Cortina on his vacation; learning to ski and ice skate; is staying with Terry Shimabukuro; plans to stay in Venice on the way back. Parents' note on envelope back: 330 Saturday Feb. 23, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-327/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-169)

Tad recounts reuniting with Tak, learning of President Roosevelt's death, and sending pre-war Francs home. Parents' note on envelope back: 172 Saturday April 21, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-169/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-86)

Tad, Shiro and John went to the Service Club that day and then saw "Together Again" at the movies. Tad says that he meant to keep his parents' Christmas present a secret, but the photos he was going to send won't be ready until he's on bivouac, so he won't be able to send them until …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-86/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-148)

Check-in letter from New York City. Tad's letter isn't censored since it wasn't sent from camp, so he tells his parents where his camp is: Camp Shanks, around 20-30 miles from NYC. Tad thinks hell be sent overseas in one or two weeks. Parents' note on envelope back: 151 Saturday March 3, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-148/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-358)

Asks them to send a sun tan hat with a blue braid, because he is back in infantry for the time being; may go to Germany to go to Information and Education Section School; if he doesn't go he will go to Rome for a trip. Parents' note on envelope back: 360 Wednesday May 22, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-358/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-24)

Tad says he saw "Till We Meet Again" at the theater. Parents' note on envelope back: (25) Monday Oct 2, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-24/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-268)

Expects to return to his company the next day; assumes Tak Yatabe is on his way home, but he doesn't know when he will be able to leave; bought some stamps in Pisa. Includes clipping from Stars and Stripes. Parents' note on envelope back: 270 Monday Oct. 15, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-268/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-94)

From Camp Blanding bivouac. Tad expects his letters to be on and off throughout the trip. The company hiked 15 miles the day before. Tad brought plenty of candy out on bivouac: ?sweet things pick you up when you're tired.? Parents' note on envelope back: 97 Friday Dec. 15, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-94/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-318)

Received two letters and a package with magazines, candy socks and "Tsuke mono", and the hat is the right size; weather has been better; heard weather was not good in San Francisco, but if he was home he wouldn't complain. Parents' note on envelope back: #321 Monday Jan. 28, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-318/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-212)

Tad promoted to P.F.C. and showed his changed address. Parents' note on envelope back: 214 Thursday July 12, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-212/

doc Letter from Howard Schemp to Mrs. Y. Ishida (ddr-densho-535-416)

Offering to put Yoshio Ishida up and help him get re-established in San Francisco

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-416/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-313)

Just returned from Rome where they met up with an American girl who worked for the American mission to the Vatican who showed them all around and got them a place to stay; went to midnight mass. Parents' note on envelope back: 316 Wednesday Jan. 9, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-313/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-367)

Service Company is moving to the staging area soon, but he hopes that he and Ryo (Uchida) will get their order before that to move to the Grave Registration Unit; Saw John Miyasaki and he said his sister and husband Hank Fujita hope that Tad will stop in Cleveland to visit on his way home, but …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-367/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-349)

He is heading to Florence with Ryo Uchida for a couple of days; asks if they have heard from Tak (Yatabe); gave his dog a bath and haircut; going to the opera again. Parents' note on envelope back: 352 Monday April 22, 1946 Request for magazines and candy.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-349/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-222)

Tad was bored of the duty of guarding prisoners and the relatively warm weather. Parents' note on envelope back: 224 Tuesday July 31, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-222/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-217)

Tad corrected that they will move on Thursday to Leghorn (Livorno) and requested for music sheet and music notebook. Parents' note on envelope back: 219 Saturday July 21, 1945 request for music sheets and notebook

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-217/