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 Serviceperson and civilian (ddr-densho-1007-49)

Scanned from negative

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-49/

img Soldier at table with clock (ddr-densho-1007-760)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-760/

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 Man in chair in front of tent (ddr-densho-1007-854)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-854/

img Man climbing pole (ddr-densho-1007-794)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-794/

img Shirtless servicepeople stationed at the Ledo Road (ddr-densho-1007-129)

Caption on back.
Area now known as "Stilwell Road" or "Stilwell Highway"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-129/

av Interview with Jimmie Matsumura, part 4 of 4; interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 1 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1608)

Jimmie Matsumura discusses his time teaching Japanese at the Pentagon and his work as a prosecutor for the Far East military tribunal. His interview ends at 17:23, at which time an interview with Clarence Matsumura begins. Clarence discusses growing up in Wyoming and his father's work as a railroad foreman. Video starts at 0:25. Loni Ding …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1608/

img Large group of soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-353)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-353/

img Group of soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-856)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-856/

av Interview with John Kaneko, part 3 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1761)

Kaneko discusses the reasons some Japanese Americans joined the military and his father's decision to bury or burn all their family's Japanese possessions. Audio only. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions. Seems to be the fourth part of the interview started in ddr-densho-1007-1759, but the third portion is missing. Original title: 407, John Kaneko IV, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1761/

doc Hung Wai Ching oral interview transcript (ddr-densho-1007-1045)

Conducted by Eric Saul for the Presidio Army Museum. Chaplain Hung Wai Ching was the Corps Director of the Morale Committee during WWII.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1045/

img Officers on steps (ddr-densho-1007-288)

Bottom right is a First Sergeant.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-288/

img Soldier outside tent (ddr-densho-1007-876)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-876/

img Two soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-1339)

Slide. Possibly Harry and Kejiro (Ken) Fukuhara.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1339/

img Soldier and strawberry farmer (ddr-densho-1007-666)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-666/

img Members of the 363rd Regiment in Pisa (ddr-densho-1007-319)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-319/

img Group of servicepeople (ddr-densho-1007-197)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-197/

av Interview with Hugh Nozawa, part 3 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1715)

Nozawa discusses being court-martialed for refusing to serve in the military while the internment camps were operating, the long fight for honorable discharge after the fact, and his reasons for trying to hard to reverse the dishonorable discharge given to Nisei who refused to serve. Original title: 222, II JA #54, Hugh Nozawa, Sun. Feb. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1715/