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

doc Hayato Kihara interviewee form (ddr-densho-1007-1135)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1135/

img Army Day parade (ddr-densho-1007-345)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-345/

av Pre-war house footage, part 6 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1738)

B-roll: books, letters, photographs, exterior. At 10:45, footage of Rudy Tokiwa showing a grain of rice he's kept for luck since the start of the war. After interview, b-roll of a US military service banner. Original title: 81B, II TB-6, Reel #6, 6/27/87. Footage continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1739/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1738/

av Balcony conversation between George Kanegai, Yosh Yamada, and Jimmie Matsumura (ddr-densho-1007-1604)

George Kanegai, Yosh Yamada, and Jimmie Matsumura Matsumura have a conversation on a balcony, directed by Loni. The three talk about their service, the Z Plan, the 112th, and Yosh's deployment overseas before the war. Original title: 90, II LA #31, 7-24-85, Balcony: K. Akune, H. Akune, Kanegai, Yamada & Matsumura

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1604/

img Group of soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-793)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-793/

img Two in front of tent (ddr-densho-1007-782)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-782/

img Soldiers eating watermelon (ddr-densho-1007-435)

Negative.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-435/

img Two soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-711)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-711/

av Interview with Clarence Matsumura, part 2 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1609)

Matsumura discusses growing up in Wyoming, his mother's cooking, moving to Los Angeles in 1936, getting his radio license, Pearl Harbor, evacuation to Pomona and Heart Mountain, his attempts to join the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines, being drafted, his basic training in Fort Hood, TX, his deployment in Europe, and the Hollywood store …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1609/

img Three figures outside car (ddr-densho-1007-31)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-31/

img Two soldiers (ddr-densho-1007-691)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-691/

img Four soldiers in forest (ddr-densho-1007-1338)

Slide. Likely in China, Burma or India.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1338/

img Soldier peeking out of tent (ddr-densho-1007-865)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-865/

img U.S. soldier leaning against car (ddr-densho-1007-354)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-354/

doc The Story of the "No/No - No/Yes" Soldiers of the 1800th General Service Battalion (ddr-densho-1007-1380)

Written by Cedrick M. Shimo for The Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1380/

av Interview with Jimmie Matsumura, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1607)

Matsumura discusses the time he spent in Japan as a child, the difficulty of Japanese high school, his work on the Far East military tribunal post-war. Video starts at 0:24. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Audio cuts out at 20:36. Original title: II LA #34, 7-24-85, J. Matsumura Interview III. Interview …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1607/

img Four in front of bouquets (ddr-densho-1007-581)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-581/

doc The Dixie Mission article (ddr-densho-1007-1387)

Article on a WWII U.S. army observer group in China. Published in Kashu Mainichi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1387/

img MacArthur at Atsugi (ddr-densho-1007-25)

Caption on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-25/

img Draftees at Reception Center in Hawaii (ddr-densho-1007-161)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-161/

img Mars Task Force in Burma (ddr-densho-1007-493)

Negative. Label on front.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-493/

img Two soldiers with rifles (ddr-densho-1007-690)

Slide, created in September 1984. Image date unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-690/

img Four soldiers in forest (ddr-densho-1007-763)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-763/

av Interview with Ray Aka, part 3 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1687)

Aka discusses his father's reaction to being arrested, the sort of person his father was, growing up apart from his family, working as a "schoolboy", his time studying at San Francisco City College, getting drafted, being evacuated to Fort San Houston, and being ordered to go to Camp Savage for language school. Loni Ding can be …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1687/

img Soldier hitting baseball (ddr-densho-1007-761)

Slide.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-761/