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-535-148)

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/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-325)

Very windy; ran the movie projector the night before, is getting quite good at it; will go to the movies at Leghorn (Livorno); no mail lately because there are less ships coming over. Parents' note on envelope back: 328 Friday Feb 15, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-325/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-265)

Bought a wallet at the PX; saw the movie "A Bell for Adano"; still waiting for letters. Parents' note on envelope back: 267 Monday Oct. 15, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-265/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-375)

He is in Forte del Marmi staying with an Italian family; has found six bodies (all bones) and they can identify two and maybe three; heading into the mountains for one more the next day, then returning to Castel Fiorentina. Parents' note on envelope back: 378 Monday July 15, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-375/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-200)

Tad temporarily reassigned to the Service Company because the main band is going to Milan while he and a few others are playing for the officer's dances; hence he is getting a new address; Tad enclosed a picture of John and Chester. Parents' note on envelope back: 202 Wednesday June 20, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-200/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-257)

Tad is sending some clippings; he might be moving to Pisa soon to rejoin his company. Parents' note on envelope back: 259 Saturday Sept. 29, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-257/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-157)

Tad talked about landing in France with excitement, and asked for socks and candy. Parents' note on envelope back: 160 Friday April 6, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-157/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-178)

Tad described cooking his own meal using a German stove and mentioned recipes made primarily with canned food and traded ingredients. He mentioned that 'energy crackers' are nicknamed 'jaw breakers,' and notes the high prices of goods. Tad recounted listening to humorous bargaining exchanges between soldiers and peddlers. Tad explained that he was unable to write …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-178/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-351)

Its Easter Sunday and they will have services outside; met up with some friends from training camp; officers are getting more strict about protocol now that the war is over. Parents' note on envelope back: 354 Monday April 29, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-351/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-150)

Parents' note on envelope back: 153 Monday March 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-150/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-234)

Tad clipped from the Liberty magazine about the Infantry Badge he received, described recent meals of fried chicken and stuffed green peppers in detail, and requested for more magazines but not candies as he was gaining weight. Parents' note on envelope back: 236 Friday Aug. 17, 1945 request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-234/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-128)

The day before, Tad and Shiro visited Shiro's brother, who is also a soldier and is stationed about 40 miles from D.C. There's a rumor that Tad's group may ship out in mid-February. If they're shipped out, they'll go to New York first. Says Washington "sure is a crowded place. We wait in line for everything." …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-128/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-269)

Went with Min Tsudama to their company to look for mail; most of the 442nd men are going home; wants to take a trip to Switzerland and buy a watch but needs to borrow money; bought a pistol with eight packs of cigarettes. Parents' note on envelope back: 271 Saturday Oct. 20, 1945 $20.00

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-269/