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

av Tom Sakamoto b-roll, part 1 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1647)

Stills from photo albums of Tom Sakamoto, mostly pictures from service. Loni Ding and a cameraman can be heard discussing the photos in the background. Original title: 132, II SJ #39, 8-18-85, Sakamoto Albums. B-roll continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1648/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1647/

img Group of soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-797)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-797/

img Smiling soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-699)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui". Duplicate of ddr-densho-1007-712.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-699/

img American soldier and Italian partisan (ddr-densho-1007-318)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-318/

img Serviceperson (ddr-densho-1007-179)

Note on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-179/

img Naval air members walking on dirt road (ddr-densho-1007-139)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-139/

img Soldier portrait (ddr-densho-1007-608)

Slide. Zoomed-in version of ddr-densho-1007-607.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-608/

img Breakfast ration card (ddr-densho-1007-824)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-824/

img Two soldiers at the International Military Tribunal (ddr-densho-1007-705)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui/H. Watanabe?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-705/

img Former crew members of PT 109 at lunch with former crew members of the Japanese destroyer Amagiri (ddr-densho-1007-127)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-127/

av Interview with Hideko Seo, part 2 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1536)

Seo discusses the life and death of her brother and wartime deaths more generally. Audio starts at 0:53. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 40, II NY #20, 6-85, Hideko Seo. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1537/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1536/

av Tom Sakamoto b-roll, part 2 of 2 (ddr-densho-1007-1648)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1648/

img Blurry image of serviceperson (ddr-densho-1007-135)

Attached to letter from Kiyo Morikami (ddr-densho-1007-122).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-135/

img Large group of soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-398)

Duplicate of ddr-densho-1007-353.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-398/

img Portrait of officer (ddr-densho-1007-606)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-606/

av Interview with Henry (Hank) Gosho, part 1 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1768)

Gosho discusses returning to Seattle from Japan before the war, his brothers being conscripted into the Japanese army, Pearl Harbor, his father's arrest by the FBI, assuming the Nisei wouldn't be evacuated, being relocated to Puyallup/Camp Harmony, realizing that he was a prisoner, his time at Minidoka, deciding early on to join the military, and the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1768/

img Two soldiers outdoors (ddr-densho-1007-707)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui/H. Watanabe?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-707/

img Man and soldier (ddr-densho-1007-704)

Slide, created in September 1984. Case reads "T. Matsui/H. Watanabe?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-704/

img Marines in landing craft heading towards Yokosuka Navy Base for Japanese surrender (ddr-densho-1007-122)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-122/

img Memorial Day flowers (ddr-densho-1007-580)

Flowers from French officials. Memorial Day was on May 25 in 1987, but it's unclear if this was taken on that exact date. Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-580/

img Lt. Eugene Wright and Nisei soldiers, 43rd Division (ddr-densho-1007-379)

Eugene Wright would go on to become a judge on the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals. Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-379/

img Army recruits from Heart Mountain (ddr-densho-1007-436)

Negative.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-436/

av Interview with Hideko Seo, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1535)

Seo discusses her experiences growing up in Portland, moving to Chicago during evacuation, her brother Jimmy's service/camp visits, and her family's time in Minidoka. Also mentions her brother's death during the war. Video starts at 0:52. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II NY #19, 6-85, Hideko Seo. Interview continues …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1535/

img Chinese and American officers (ddr-densho-1007-283)

Caption on back does not match photo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-283/

img Soldiers in courtroom (ddr-densho-1007-401)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-401/