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

img Kimiko Fujii and soldier with statue (ddr-densho-433-1028)

Kimiko Fujii and a soldier pose in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln at the University of Wisconsin's Bascom Hall.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1028/

img Soldier looks over a rail (ddr-densho-433-1037)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1037/

img Kimi Fujii, Hisako, and a GI (ddr-densho-433-818)

Written on verso: 44, with GI from Hawaii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-818/

img Soldier leans against a railing (ddr-densho-433-1034)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1034/

img Portrait of a soldier named Kay (ddr-densho-433-1017)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1017/

doc Letter from Hank to Kim Fujii (ddr-densho-433-27)

Hank writes to Kizie (Kimiko) Fujii about families leaving the concentration camp, flowers his mother made her, and updates on their friends.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-27/

img Kimiko Fujii and snow sculptures (ddr-densho-433-1027)

Kimiko Fujii and a soldier pose with two snow sculptures. See also ddr-densho-433-1257.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1027/

img Soldier at Mount Fujii (ddr-densho-433-1044)

A soldier stands besides Lake Kawaguchiko with Mount Fujii rising in the background.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1044/

img Soldier on a grassy hill (ddr-densho-433-1032)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1032/

doc Postcard from Pvt. Koji Kawaguchi to Kimi Fujii (ddr-densho-433-22)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-22/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/

doc Japanese American Internment Camps: A General Overview Of Camp Life and Conditions (ddr-densho-560-6)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-6/

doc Nisei Vets Committee Memorial Day Program-Lake View Cemetery (ddr-densho-560-3)

Including biography of guest speaker Brigadier General Oscar B. Hillman

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-3/

img Jungle interrogation at table (ddr-densho-1007-439)

Negative. Duplicate of ddr-densho-1007-502.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-439/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 4 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1801)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Nomiyama discusses waiting for an opportunity to take part in the war effort, joining company C at FortMcClellan in Alabama, wanting to be court martialed to have an opportunity to speak his mind, why he didn't want to serve in the Pacific, what he thought the war was …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1801/

av Harry Akune and Jim Ariyasu on balcony (ddr-densho-1007-1595)

Harry Akune and Jim Ariyasu talking to each other about their service. Video starts at 0:26. Original title: 81, II LA #22, 7-24-85, Bakery meeting, Harry Akune & Jim Ariyasu

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1595/

img William Kochiyama portrait (ddr-densho-1007-842)

Slide. To Mary.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-842/

img Couple posing outside (ddr-densho-1007-251)

Caption on back.
Possibly: Harry Iwasaki and his wife.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-251/

img Serviceperson outside tents (ddr-densho-1007-61)

Scanned from negative
Likely: Harry Furumoto
From Harry Furumoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-61/

av Interview with Hugh Nozawa, part 2 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1714)

Nozawa discusses the mistreatment of the Nisei during Roosevelt's visit to Fort Riley, a complaint he wrote to John J. McCloy afterwards, being punished for writing the letter without permission, the differences between Kibei and US-educated Nisei, growing up in Japan, being drafted while in Santa Monica, and being court martialed. Loni Ding can be heard …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1714/