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

img Man in white tee shirt (ddr-densho-1007-846)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-846/

img Officer sitting on lawn (ddr-densho-1007-607)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-607/

img Four servicepeople with plane at Myitkyina Airfield (ddr-densho-1007-130)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-130/

img Soldier outside tent (ddr-densho-1007-849)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-849/

av Interview with Harry and Ken Akune, part 6 of 6; b-roll and balcony meeting (ddr-densho-1007-1594)

This tape exclusively features Ken Akune, who discusses radio propaganda he made with the Office of War Information, an argument he had with an executive officer, and his feelings on redress. Video starts at 0:24, interview with Ken ends at 11:33. B-roll of patio from 11:34-13:28; rest of tape is a meeting between Harry Akune and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1594/

img One soldier, marchers in background (ddr-densho-1007-417)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-417/

img Men walking in line (ddr-densho-1007-292)

May be a prison yard.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-292/

img Three soldiers in a medic tent (ddr-densho-1007-298)

Caption on back mentions Ken Tasami.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-298/

img Smiling soldier with shovel (ddr-densho-1007-475)

Negative. From a Harry Fukuhara sheet.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-475/

img Jungle interrogation at table (ddr-densho-1007-502)

Negative. Labeled "pacific team interrogation - table & pow." Duplicate of ddr-densho-1007-439.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-502/

img Officers with microphones (ddr-densho-1007-306)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-306/

img Serviceperson standing in snow (ddr-densho-1007-207)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-207/

av Stills of Frank Hachiya and two other soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-1666)

The two other men are not named. Original title: 150, II MON #18, 9-9-85, Stills of 3 men, Hachiya

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1666/

img Man walking with stick (ddr-densho-1007-368)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-368/

img Portrait of serviceperson from below (ddr-densho-1007-256)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-256/

img Mark Clark, Tech. Sgt. Tom Nosei, and mother (ddr-densho-1007-68)

Caption on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-68/

img Soldier on patrol in Livorno (ddr-densho-1007-348)

Soldier is in the 100th Battalion, 34th Division. Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-348/

av Interview with Harry and Ken Akune, part 5 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1593)

This tape exclusively features Ken Akune, who discusses a confrontation he had with a racist sergeant, the propaganda he helped create in China/Burma/India, and the relationship between US soldiers and Japanese prisoners of war. Video starts at 0:29. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 79, II LA #20, 7-24-85, Ken …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1593/

img Serviceperson shouldering bag on train (ddr-densho-1007-209)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-209/

img Man reading in sandbags (ddr-densho-1007-352)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-352/

img Members of the 413th Regiment in a field (ddr-densho-1007-316)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-316/

img Selective Service desk (ddr-densho-1007-305)

Four men looking at another. Caption on back suggests this may have been taken during recruitment.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-305/

img Portrait of soldier (ddr-densho-1007-387)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-387/

av Interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1806)

Grace discusses working with her husband-to-be before the war, her husband asking for a divorce (knowing that he would be imprisoned for refusing to serve), her husband Henry's reasons for refusing to serve, her husband's family preventing him from going to college, trying and failing to live outside of camp in Arizona, evacuation and closing her …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1806/

av Interview with Yosh Nakayama, part 4 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1588)

Nakayama discusses his experiences with Japanese locals, his worst memories of camp, his difficulty finding a job after the war, his work translating letters in Japan, his time learning judo in camp and in Japan, and his thoughts on why judo is important for Japanese-American youth. Video starts at 0:29. Loni Ding can be heard asking …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1588/