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 Side profile of soldier (ddr-densho-1007-394)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-394/

doc Nisei's Devotion - Beyond the Call of Duty (ddr-densho-1007-1840)

Speech by Tom Sakamoto at the 1988 JACL Installation Dinner describing his experiences growing up in San Jose's Japantown, wartime experience and military service, and the impact of Japanese American treatment during World War II.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1840/

av Interview with a woman of the Watsonville Issei Singers, part 1 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1660)

An Issei woman (not named) discusses incarceration, the future she imagined for her children, her feelings on her sons joining the military, and her feelings towards the US after the war. An interpreter translates her answers into English. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the background. Original title: II MON #12, 9-9-85, #12 Issei …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1660/

img Three in conversation (ddr-densho-1007-458)

Negative. In folder labeled "Eugene Wright with 2 linguists"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-458/

img Serviceman and child on Okinawa (ddr-densho-1007-84)

Caption on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-84/

img negative - from Yoshimura folder - print label "Akiji Yoshimura New Dehli, India November 1944" (ddr-densho-1007-445)

Negative. From Yoshimura folder. Labeled "Akiji Yoshimura New Dehli, India November 1944."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-445/

img Pair in helmets (ddr-densho-1007-446)

Negative. Included with object ddr-densho-1007-456.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-446/

img Frank S. Yanagimachi Bronze Star Medal citation (ddr-densho-1007-679)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown. Case reads "T. Matsui"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-679/

img Men on stoop (ddr-densho-1007-611)

Slide. Picture taken in front of the kitchen of Company A, 57th Battalion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-611/

img Soldier portrait (ddr-densho-1007-710)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-710/

img Three soldiers and log (ddr-densho-1007-860)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-860/

av Interview with Shigeo Yamada, part 2 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1708)

Yamada discusses growing up on farms in Hansen and Jerome, ID, his parents' views on education, his first impressions of Japan, the sinking of the cruiser he served on in the Japanese navy and being rescued. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #47, Shigeo Yamada, Sun. Feb. 2. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1708/

img Servicepeople marching on the edge of a forest (ddr-densho-1007-151)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-151/

av Interview with Paul Minerich, Tim Nomiyama, Masao Kataoka, and Kenjiro Hayakawa, part 2 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1799)

From left to right: Minerich, Nomiyama, Kataoka, Hayakawa. Minerich discusses the urgency of the DB Boys case. Nomiyama and Kataoka discuss whether they thought their court martials would ever be reversed. Kataoka discusses growing up in LA, meeting Edmund Zane in high school, how the two became friends, how Zane picked up the legal case of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1799/

av Interview with Nobuo Yamashita, part 2 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1777)

Yamashita discusses serving with Minoru (Min) Hara, his family's business ventures (farming and produce), being deployed to the 6th Infantry Division in New Guinea, how he kept himself busy while serving, the story of a boy who was shot in a friendly fire incident, his issues with his officers, not getting furlough, and the death of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1777/

img Soldier in tanktop (ddr-densho-1007-726)

Slide. Case reads "IIJIMA, roll 3 #21"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-726/

img Two soldiers in winter gear (ddr-densho-1007-827)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-827/

av Roger Daniels interviewed by Kent Hori, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1758)

Daniels discusses what may have happened if the Japanese American community resisted evacuation en masse, how Japanese Americans were placed under 4C (enemy alien, undraftable) status and the military's eventual interest in Japanese Americans (particularly Kibei) for intelligence work, the importance of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the loyalty questionnaire, the persecution …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1758/

img Servicepeople with ball and trophy (ddr-densho-1007-200)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-200/

img Japanese servicepeople escorted by American Marines after Japanese surrender (ddr-densho-1007-259)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-259/

img Three service people with American flag (ddr-densho-1007-42)

Likely: Fort Snelling Color Guard

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-42/

img Marines walking across Navy yard (ddr-densho-1007-30)

Caption on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-30/

img Three soldiers outdoors (ddr-densho-1007-869)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-869/

img Soldiers in front of pavilion (ddr-densho-1007-667)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown. Case reads "Eugene Wright"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-667/

av Interview with Hideko Seo, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1537)

Hideko Seo talks about her life during the war, her brother's feelings about service, and seeing her brother in New York before he was sent overseas. Video starts at 0:52. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 41, II NY #21, 6-85, Hideko Seo. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1538/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1537/