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 (4309)

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4309 items

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/

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/

img Two hugging (ddr-densho-1007-252)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-252/

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

Inscription on front reads "155799."

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

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 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/

av Interview with Ray Aka, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1685)

Aka discusses moving to Japan in 1946, growing up on Maui and in Okinawa, returning to the US as a teenager, being drafted, and his Japanese education. The first few minutes of the tape are Loni Ding explaining her interview process to Aka. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions during the interview. Original title: II …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1685/

av Interview with Shigeo Yamada, part 3 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1709)

Yamada discusses the military service of his brothers (for the Japanese army) and the state of Japan after the war/post-reconstruction. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #48, Shigeo Yamada, Sun. Feb. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1709/

img Seattle parade (ddr-densho-1007-343)

Caption on back reads "Seattle postwar."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-343/

img Members of Company I, 299th Infantry on watch in the Hanalei Beach Area (ddr-densho-1007-164)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-164/

av Interview with William Kochiyama, part 1 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1522)

Kochiyama discusses his experiences with internment at Topaz, military service and political activism. Original title: 27, II NY #6, 6-5-85. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1523/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1522/

img Soldier with bag (ddr-densho-1007-872)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-872/

img Soldier in doorway (ddr-densho-1007-801)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-801/

av Interview with Chris Ishii, part 5 of 7 (ddr-densho-1007-1559)

Ishii discusses his basic training in Mississippi, Jim Crow, his experiences with Nisei interrogators in China, and his father moving to the US. Video starts at 0:55. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 58, II NY #43, 6-85, Ishii. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1560/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1559/

img Smiling soldier outside (ddr-densho-1007-765)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-765/

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/