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 (4287)

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4287 items

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-359)

Wishes his mother a belated Mother's Day; hopes their move goes well; is assigned to telephone duty today; the sun tan uniform fits him and he had the patches and stripes sewn on; they had his favorite dish for lunch, hamburger. Parents' note on envelope back: 361 Wednesday May 22, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-359/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-291)

First typed letter. Got three letters and a package; is running the movie projector now as well as his other jobs; expects Bob (Yatabe) should be home now and asks that they let him know when he does get home; asks for magazines and socks. Parents' note on envelope back: #293 Saturday Dec. 1, 1945 request …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-291/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-75)

That day was the company's second and final day on the mortar range. After that, the camp had a review where the general inspected around 1000 men. Includes a drawing of the medal Tad bought - it's the same as the one he lost. Parents' note on envelope back: 78 Saturday Nov. 25, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-75/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-114)

Parents' note on envelope back: 117 Saturday Jan. 13, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-114/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-162)

Tad practiced in rifle range, and mentioned an upcoming salary of $60 ($10 increase for overseas deployment, with further increase if he earns combat infantryman's badge. Parents' note on envelope back: 165 Wednesday April 11, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-162/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-100)

From Camp Blanding bivouac. Parents' note on envelope back: 103 Tuesday Dec. 26, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-100/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-151)

Tad unexpectedly receiving a pass from captain to deliver an item in New York and having a good time. Parents' note on envelope back: 154 Monday March 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-151/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-279)

He is being kept busy at his new office job; still planning to go to Switzerland; went to a show. Parents' note on envelope back: 281 Thursday Nov. 1, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-279/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-262)

Got his pay; had dinner with his old company; a friend (Katsumi Kawaguchi) reenlisted and is headed to the Pacific theater after a furlough; requests more magazines. Parents' note on envelope back: 264 Saturday Oct. 13, 1945 request for magazines

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-262/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-17)

Parents' note on envelope back: (18) Monday Sept 24, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-17/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-129)

Tad and Shiro (and the rest of their company) are being shipped out. First, they'll go to the port of embarkation, which Tad thinks is next to New York. Tad tells his parents not to worry, that hell keep writing, and to pass on his thanks to Mr. Okamoto for fixing his watch. Parents' note on …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-129/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-321)

Plans to go to Cortina near the Austrian border for a weeks vacation; its a winter resort so plans to learn some winter sports; going to the movies that night; requests magazines. Parents' note on envelope back: 324 Monday Feb. 11, 1946 Request for magazines and socks

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-321/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-346)

Apologizes for getting mad at her in his last letter, hope her feelings weren't hurt, but also he was not supposed to tell anyone when he and his regiment might go home so she has to keep it a secret. Parents' note on envelope back: 349 Monday April 8, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-346/

doc V-mail from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. Yoshio Ishida (ddr-densho-535-402)

Change of address for Tadashi Ishida

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-402/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-292)

Took some pictures and will send them as soon as they developed; had to drive the truck to town today. Parents' note on envelope back: #294 Saturday Dec. 1, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-292/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-37)

Another day spent at the firing range; Tad's score qualified him as a sharpshooter, the 4th best out of 150 men. Parents' note on envelope back: (38) Saturday Oct 14, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-37/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-320)

Rode around all day with other men in half-track trucks, ate K rations. Parents' note on envelope back: 323 Monday Feb. 11, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-320/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-235)

Tad wrote very concisely about packing and leaving for training at the vet hospital. Parents' note on envelope back: 237 Monday Aug. 20, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-235/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-397)

Went to Sienna for the evening; planning to take a couple of days and go to Venice before they leave; because he worked as a medic, local townspeople sometimes come to him for minor ailments so when he walks around they say "Buon Journo Dottore" and they call Ryo "Piccolo Dottore". Parents' note on envelope back: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-397/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-339)

Received packages from them with cigarettes, candy, magazine and food; he is feeling homesick for the first time with all the other guys heading home; the dog he has there is so popular, everyone spoils, he would like to bring her back to the states. Parents' note on envelope back: 342 Thursday March 21, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-339/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-158)

Tad talked about living conditions and weather and mentioned being quarantined again for measles. Parents' note on envelope back: 161 Saturday April 7, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-158/

doc Letter to Saburo Kitagawa at Topaz camp from Haj at Heart Mountain (ddr-densho-539-41)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-539-41/

doc Crystal City Chatter Issue 114 (ddr-densho-537-113)

Issue 114 includes articles about the Day of Remembrance; information for a book about Kooskia camp, the story of the Imakitas from the Marshall Islands, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-537-113/

doc Crystal City Chatter Issue 106 (ddr-densho-537-104)

Issue 106 includes information about a former German American detainees reunion, letters to the editor, an article about the lost battalion, and more. [Page 9 erroneously labeled issue 107. There are two issues labeled 106. See also ddr-densho-537-105.]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-537-104/

doc Crystal City Chatter Issue 68 (ddr-densho-537-77)

Issue 68 includes a message from the association president, information about a reunion with the Peru-kai and German detainees, a book review of "The Last Fox," and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-537-77/