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-535-263)

Went for his physical exam; visited a stamp shop; has some hakujin friends with a car and they travel around together; saw a movie in Leghorn (Livorno). Parents' note on envelope back: 265 Monday Oct. 15, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-263/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-125)

Tad and company went out into the woods for a compass problem. Everyone got lost. Parents' note on envelope back: 128 Wednesday Feb. 7, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-125/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-108)

Tad says he's meeting all the boys that recently came from Topaz; he's met "about 4" boys that he knew in camp. Says he still isn't supposed to be writing letters. Hopes to be home around the middle of January. Parents' note on envelope back: 111 Saturday Jan. 6, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-108/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-282)

Still waiting for orders to return to his company; asks about how things are in San Francisco and whether they are getting a house; doesn't expect to be home until 1946;he is saving his money and plans to go to school when he gets home. Parents' note on envelope back: 284 Monday Nov. 5, 1956

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-282/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-105)

Tad still isn't allowed to write letters, so this one was snuck out. Tad and the remaining men in camp are doing a lot of chores. Says he got a letter from Tomi (who attached a card from Alfred Chu, a former classmate in San Francisco) and Fuji. Tad can receive letters just fine. Thanks his …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-105/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-167)

Tad and a friend rigged up a shower then sunbathed in the afternoon. Parents' note on envelope back: 170 Thursday April 19, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-167/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-290)

Just got driver's license to drive trucks; laughed about them telling him to drive slow because if he doesn't he faces court martial and a fee; asks for magazines. Parents' note on envelope back: 292 Wednesday Nov. 21, 1945 Request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-290/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-18)

Tad learned about explosives that day; the soldiers learned how to make homemade grenades, which he describes in detail. He says "don't worry - I didn't blow anyone up." Mentions that he's getting fitted for new glasses. He broke a pair of his, so he's sending them home with a request for his parents to fix …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-18/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-261)

Moved to Pisa; received all the back letters and packages; heard they were planning to move back to California; is sending a History of the 442nd. Parents' note on envelope back: 263 Saturday Oct. 13, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-261/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-308)

Decided to write another letter today; ran the projector for the movie; didn't have time to visit John but will see him another time; they are having a Christmas party for the company and he is going to find a tree. Parents' note on envelope back: 311 Friday Jan 4, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-308/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-254)

Tad went riding, helped treat some injured horses; still hoping for letters; read that rationing in the U.S. will be over soon. Parents' note on envelope back: 256 Saturday Sept. 29, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-254/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-131)

Chester and Tad spent their last day in D.C. at the Smithsonian. They're headed to New York soon, but Tad isn't sure when. Parents' note on envelope back: 134 Wednesday Feb 14, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-131/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-387)

His and Ryo's Captain wants them to go to Officer's Candidate school, but he absolutely does not want to, he is ready to go home; looking forward to seeing Aunt Tomi's new baby; he broke his glasses. Parents' note on envelope back: 390 Monday Aug 19, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-387/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-293)

Went to Leghorn (Livorno) in the morning and bought a sleeping bag; got 4 letters from them today; asks them to send some canned goods. Parents' note on envelope back: #295 Saturday Dec. 1, 1945 request for canned goods

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-293/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-192)

Tad went to town but wasn't able to find a suitable gift from mother; Tad has not mailed out the bracelet yet. Parents' note on envelope back: 194 Friday June 8, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-192/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-76)

Tad and the men are learning how to fire a new machine gun: this one is 50 caliber as opposed to the old 30 caliber one. Tad says "it really is a big baby." Parents' note on envelope back: 79 Saturday Nov 25, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-76/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-288)

He had a good time in Switzerland, went horse-back riding, ice skating; saw the exiled Spanish royal family at their hotel. Parents' note on envelope back: 290 Tuesday Nov. 20, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-288/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-230)

Tad received a package and complimented "G.I. Joe" that he watched last night; Tad also explained that he was not treating the prisoners "nice" but rather fairly since he can't forget that they were shooting at them just months before. Parents' note on envelope back: 232 Monday Aug 13, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-230/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-156)

Tad did not get any mail, and talked about the weather and boredom. Parents' note on envelope back: 159 Thursday April 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-156/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-164)

Tad was on guard. Parents' note on envelope back: 167 Monday April 16, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-164/

doc Letter from John Miyasaki To Mrs. Y. Ishida (ddr-densho-535-414)

He and Tad are stationed near each other; since V-E day, he has been searching prisoners; feels some sympathy for the men who have families.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-414/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-95)

From Camp Blanding bivouac. As a squad leader, Tad has to wait for all of his men to eat before he can; "I'll write later. Food!" Parents' note on envelope back: 98 Monday Dec. 18, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-95/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-344)

Got more letters and packages from them; has the tea set all ready to mail out; saw an imported china set from Dresden that he might buy; Terry (Shimabukuro) went to Switzerland, he worked with Tak Yatabe and they took over from Mike Muraoka and Doc, and a boy of Utah, Ryo Uchida works there too. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-344/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-45)

Tad says to thank Kuri-san for the okashi and mame. Tad plans to go to Starke on Sunday and buy a cheap trumpet to "play around with." Parents' note on envelope back: 46 Monday Oct. 23, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-45/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-135)

It's snowy. Parents' note on envelope back: 138 Tuesday Feb. 20 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-135/