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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

4131 items

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-224)

Tad shares details of his daily duties, lifestyle, and visits to the PX; Tad mentions that the Andrews Sisters are scheduled to perform at the USO and ends the letter with 'Fino Domani' (till tomorrow). Parents' note on envelope back: 226 Thursday Aug. 2, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-224/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-236)

Tad arrived at the cavalry outfit (6742 Remount Depot), expressed his appreciation to the new life and provided his detailed schedule. Parents' note on envelope back: 238 Monday Aug. 20, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-236/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-280)

Not as busy at work; his sergeant is going home and may come to visit Tad's parents; going to a "over 21" show tonight; wrote letters to Aunt Tomi and Fuji. Parents' note on envelope back: 282 Thursday Nov. 1, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-280/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-196)

Tad was in easy K.P. duty where he supervises prisoners to do the work; He offered to buy parents an Italian carpet and asked them to send a drawing of the kind they want. Parents' note on envelope back: 198 Thursday June 14, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-196/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-149)

Tad and friends saw Johnnie Long's orchestra in NYC. Tad and "the gang" plan to go to New York again soon. Parents' note on envelope back: 152 Monday March 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-149/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-319)

Is sending a photo and received the photos of them, Tochan and Tokie; wants to go to Rome for Christmas; went to a movie at Leghorn (Livorno). Parents' note on envelope back: 322 Tuesday Jan. 29, 1946 Request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-319/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-177)

Tad had a rainy evening and traded cigarettes and rations for eggs with Italian peddlers. Parents' note on envelope back: 179 Monday May 14, 1945 PM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-177/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-218)

Tad guarded prisoners for K.P. and other chores; Tad even had the prisoners to carry his gun. Parents' note on envelope back: 220 Wednesday July 25, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-218/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-216)

Tad confirmed that the unit would either move to Pisa or Leghorn (Livorno); Tad received an old package and a lot letter from parents and friends. Parents' note on envelope back: 218 Saturday July 21, 1945 request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-216/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-180)

Tad went to town and bought a camera, post cards, and Italian stamps. Parents' note on envelope back: 182 Saturday May 19, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-180/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-72)

Tad lost his medal, but he plans to buy a new one. Today was the company's last day with the machine guns. There was a mouse in Tad's hut, but he and John caught and drowned it ("quick and painless"). Parents' note on envelope back: 75 Wednesday Nov. 22, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-72/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-14)

Tad thanks his parents for sending cookies, saying "considering it's your first, it's very good." Parents' note on envelope back: (15) Thursday Sept 21, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-14/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-103)

Check-in letter from Camp Blanding, the first written in six days. When Tad's company got back from bivouac (six days ago), they were told to be ready to leave camp at any moment and weren't allowed to make phone calls or write letters. About half Tad's company was shipped off a day later, but not him; …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-103/

doc Laminated Honorable Discharge for Tad Ishida (ddr-densho-535-420)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-420/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-302)

He got a mattress that day; asks them to send his trumpet if its not too heavy, he had to turn in his coronet because the rest of the band went home. Parents' note on envelope back: #305 Friday, Dec. 21, 1945 Request for Trumpet

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-302/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-342)

Took the day off, played badminton and drove around the countryside with a buddy; is helping some other guys to study to get their high school diplomas; is turning 20 that week; is borrowing a truck to drive to Florence. Parents' note on envelope back: 345 Wednesday March 27, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-342/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-190)

Tad had a street parade and talked about food cooked by Nisei cooks in the regiment. Parents' note on envelope back: 192 Tuesday June 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-190/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-240)

Tad talked about his routine at the vet school; Tad went to beach with friends and met an Italian family who invited them to dinner. Parents' note on envelope back: 242 Tuesday Sept. 4, 1945 request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-240/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-201)

Tad went to Milan and his unit would move near Lake Como and Swiss border. Parents' note on envelope back: 203 Monday June 25, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-201/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-22)

Tad says he wrote Bob (Yatabe) a letter. Mentions that Saturday is payday (letter written on Tuesday); asks if he's "sounding like a ku-ichi". Parents' note on envelope back: (23) Friday Sept 29, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-22/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-91)

Tad heads out for bivouac in three days. He says that when he returns hell send a telegram right away so that his parents can send him money for his train fare back home (once he's on furlough). Tad thinks his furlough will be around mid-January. Says that hell write as often as he can on …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-91/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-337)

Is sending two boxes home; is filling in for the medic since he is the only one with experience with the drugs; is a bit of curiosity because most of the men with combat experience have left so his combat badge gets noticed; asks for cigarettes. Parents' note on envelope back: 340 Monday March 18, 1946 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-337/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-6)

Parents' note on envelope back: (7) Wednesday Sept 13, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-6/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-395)

He got both his promotion to sergeant and his order to return home; he is leaving in one week; he and Ryo were investigating a case where a soldier was captured by the Germans, escaped, then was recaptured and killed, they are considering it a war crime. Parents' note on envelope back: 398 Monday Sept. 30, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-395/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-141)

Tad thanks his parents for sending candy and says he wishes he was still at the hospital. As he writes, he's playing gin rummy with Chester. Parents' note on envelope back: 144 Saturday Feb. 24, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-141/