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 Three soldiers with woman (ddr-densho-1007-764)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-764/

img Group of people, seated with three ukuleles (ddr-densho-1007-62)

Scanned from negative
From Harry Furumoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-62/

img The Yusas (ddr-densho-1007-250)

Clippings on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-250/

doc The Color of Honor Single-Fold Card (ddr-densho-1007-1812)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1812/

img Outdoor meal (ddr-densho-1007-725)

Slide. Case reads "IIJIMA, roll 3 #20"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-725/

img Strawberry farmer and soldier (ddr-densho-1007-501)

Negative.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-501/

img Soldier in cave (ddr-densho-1007-372)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-372/

Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 8 of 8; interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1805)

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 8 of 8; interview with Gary and Grace Itano, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1805)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Kataoka discusses his hopes for the future, his feelings on Abraham Lincoln, and sneaking a letter from Hugh Nozawa to President Roosevelt out of camp. Minerich discusses the hearings that had taken place shortly before this interview at the Pentagon. Nomiyama discusses how he felt after the hearings …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1805/

img Four soldiers in car (ddr-densho-1007-848)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-848/

img Serviceperson with glasses saluting (ddr-densho-1007-43)

Scanned from negative
Hat embroidered with the word Seattle

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-43/

img Two soldiers under a tarp (ddr-densho-1007-299)

Inscription on front reads "155799."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-299/

img Four servicepeople and one civilian in white overalls outside sukiyaki restaurant (ddr-densho-1007-45)

Scanned from negative

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-45/

doc Masao Nagahiro interviewee form (ddr-densho-1007-1132)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1132/

av Interview with Masaru Ogawa, part 2 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1711)

Ogawa discusses his time in the Philippines in 1944 with the Japanese army. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #50, Masaru Ogawa, Sun. Feb. 2. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1712/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1711/

img Signed portrait (ddr-densho-1007-614)

Slide. Upper left text reads "To Sgt. & Mrs. Iijima"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-614/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 5 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1774)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1620/. Oka is on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Ito discusses the deaths of two Nisei on his team and the fear of being mistaken for a Japanese soldier. Oka discusses being interviewed for military intelligence at Camp Carson in Colorado, being treated differently than Caucasian soldiers, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1774/

img Leaning Tower of Pisa and Fifth Army tanks (ddr-densho-1007-317)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-317/

img Contact sheet with badges (ddr-densho-1007-290)

Contact sheet of 26 negatives. Several are photos of military badges.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-290/

img Soldier in folding chair (ddr-densho-1007-864)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-864/

img Several on truck (ddr-densho-1007-418)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-418/

img Five with headstone (ddr-densho-1007-201)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-201/

av Interview with John Fujii, part 2 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1692)

Fujii discusses being suspected as a Japanese spy while working for a newspaper, serving Japan and being interned in India during the war, his sympathy for Japan during the war, his brother's service in the US army, and his brother's attitude toward Japan. Video starts at 0:25. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1692/

img Two soldiers in winter gear (ddr-densho-1007-828)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-828/

img Marines coming ashore in Yokosuka (ddr-densho-1007-115)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-115/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 7 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1775)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1621/. Oka is on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Yagi discusses his family (some of whom were near Hiroshima at the time of the bomb) and their situation after the war, being discharged from the military, joining and working for the post office, and wanting to switch …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1775/