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 (231)
Military service (2806)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
298th/299th Infantry, Charles H. Bonesteel, Buddhahead, Fighting for Tomorrow: Japanese Americans in America's Wars (exhibition), Frank "Foo" Fujita, GI Bill, Hawaii Territorial Guard, Hood River incident, Japanese American World War II military service memorials, Japanese Americans in military during World War II, Samuel Wilder King, Kotonk, Ben Kuroki, Spark Matsunaga, None, Rescue of the Lost Battalion, Revolution of 1954, Shigeo Yoshida

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2806 items
Men boy and dog (ddr-csujad-26-116)
img Men boy and dog (ddr-csujad-26-116)
Three men including a Japanese American man in uniform, Robert Billigmeier with a dog, and a small Japanese American boy pose for a group photo. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_081
Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-44)
doc Personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-44)
Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topics including social and cultural differences, personality conflicts, friendships, social interactions, school, dogs, memories, reflections on camp life, weather, a friend in the military visiting his parents in camp, hobbies, and opinions about other people and daily life. Each entry …
Single soldier (ddr-csujad-26-99)
img Single soldier (ddr-csujad-26-99)
A Japanese American soldier poses in front of a building in his gear and holds a rifle. Handwriting on front of photo reads, "To [Henry] and Bob, just tired 'doggie' [Vaj] Ft. Mc Clellan, Ala. 1944." Caption on back of photo reads, "If I look tired - I am or was. It was one of those …
Group of children with Ben Kuroki (ddr-csujad-32-22)
img Group of children with Ben Kuroki (ddr-csujad-32-22)
Group photograph of children with Ben Kuroki in military uniform at the Minidoka incarceration camp. Photo featured on page 9 of the Minidoka Incarceration Camp Photograph Album (csudh_ben_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ben_01_001_010_033
Man in military uniform (ddr-csujad-37-10)
img Man in military uniform (ddr-csujad-37-10)
Photograph of a man in a military uniform standing at snow covered Heart Mountain camp, Wyoming. Handwritten note on front of photograph states, "To [Elda] Johnny, and [Nike] Sincerely Shigeto." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mhf_010
Man in military uniform (ddr-csujad-37-7)
img Man in military uniform (ddr-csujad-37-7)
Photograph of a man, most likely Yoshito, in a militiary uniform. Handwritten note on the front of photograph states, "To my Dear Aunt Ai-Chan." Handwritten note on back of photograph states, "Miss you a lot dear Ai-chan. Hope peace will come soon so we could all get together again forever." See this object in the California …
Sasaki family at the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-275)
img Sasaki family at the Jerome camp (ddr-csujad-38-275)
Photographed is the Sasaki family incarcerated at the Jerome camp in Arkansas, including Ichiji and Shika Sasaki, and their Nisei son in the U.S. Army uniform. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), …
Kazumasa Sasaki (ddr-csujad-38-41)
img Kazumasa Sasaki (ddr-csujad-38-41)
A photo of Kazumasa Sasaki in U.S. military uniform. Kazumasa is the husband of George Naohara's cousin, Yoshiye Dorothy Naohara. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 11. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_11_002
Kazumasa Sasaki (ddr-csujad-38-40)
img Kazumasa Sasaki (ddr-csujad-38-40)
A photo of Kazumasa Sasaki, who married to George Naohara's cousin, Yoshiye Dorothy Naohara. The caption includes description of him, including his gambling habit. A photo from "George Naohara photo album" (csudh_nao_0001), page 11. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_01_11_001
Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas, October 29, 1942 (ddr-csujad-4-15)
doc Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas, October 29, 1942 (ddr-csujad-4-15)
A letter from Usami Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, he describes his life and the conditions of the Rohwer incarceration camp. He also describes the Japanese American soldiers visiting the camp: among the soldiers, he finds Sam Kita, one of his …
Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945, typescript (ddr-csujad-42-82)
doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945, typescript (ddr-csujad-42-82)
Japanese typescript of the letter: csudh_tak_0080. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_39_001_jpn
Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-81)
doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-81)
English translation of the letter: csudh_tak_0080. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_39_001_eng
Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-80)
doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-80)
A letter from Tsuruno Meguro in the Heart Mountain incarceration camp to her son-in-law and daughter, Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano in the Gila River incarceration camp. She informs them that she is leaving the camp with Kumaji on Friday, May 11, and planning to rent Mr. Shimazu's house in Los Angeles, California. Her other daughters, …
Naval Air Station looking east (ddr-csujad-43-265)
img Naval Air Station looking east (ddr-csujad-43-265)
Photograph number 2006 of the Naval Air Station of Terminal Island. Subject reads: Naval Air Station Terminal Island Calif. [California] Alt. [Altitude] 12000' looking east. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ter_05_003
Aerial view of naval drydocks (ddr-csujad-43-258)
img Aerial view of naval drydocks (ddr-csujad-43-258)
Aerial photograph number 5838 of Terminal Island, San Pedro and Long Beach. Note on the back side reads: Naval Drydocks, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California. Long Beach Entrance Channel, Retractable Pontoon Bridge, looking east toward Long Beach. Contract Noy-8012. Aerial. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ter_04_063_001
Naval Operating Base (ddr-csujad-43-259)
img Naval Operating Base (ddr-csujad-43-259)
Aerial photograph number 7445 of Terminal Island. Note on the back side reads: Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro), California. Receiving station, looking south southeast. Contract Noy-8008. Title from note. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ter_04_064_001
Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 17th session (March 27, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-20)
doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 17th session (March 27, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-20)
The council minutes feature the plans for awarding the Silver Star for Mrs. Aoyama late son's service. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_049
Photograph of five people, including an army soldier, posing in front of the Manzanar barracks (ddr-csujad-47-204)
img Photograph of five people, including an army soldier, posing in front of the Manzanar barracks (ddr-csujad-47-204)
Photograph of five people, including an army soldier, posing in front of a building at Manzanar incarceration camp, possibly a barracks. The women are wearing dark sweaters and skirts, and the man is wearing a suit. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0340
Letter from H. N. Gilbert, Brigadier General, United States Army Director to Masao Okine, May 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-78)
doc Letter from H. N. Gilbert, Brigadier General, United States Army Director to Masao Okine, May 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-78)
An official letter from Office of Dependency Benefits of the U.S. Army Service Forces, Office of the Fiscal Director. It requests the documentary evidence to support the application for family allowance. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_17_001
Letter from Corine Key, Relocation Adviser, Rohwer Relocation Center, to Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director, November 1, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-97)
doc Letter from Corine Key, Relocation Adviser, Rohwer Relocation Center, to Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director, November 1, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-97)
A letter from Corine Key, Relocation Advisor at the Rohwer incarceration camp to Federal Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director in Long Beach, California. It certifies that the Okines are eligible for federal housing on the basis of their sons' service with the U.S. Army. Enclosed with other items: csudh_oki_0099, csudh_oki_0100, and csudh_oki_0101. See this object …
[Japanese American soldier] (ddr-csujad-5-21)
img [Japanese American soldier] (ddr-csujad-5-21)
A photograph of a Japanese American soldier taken at a parade ground at Camp Blanding, Florida. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_005
I am a doughboy (ddr-csujad-5-297)
doc I am a doughboy (ddr-csujad-5-297)
A booklet given to soldiers at the U.S. Infantry Replacement Training Centers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_06_06_001
Letter from Seiichi Okine to Masao Okine, May 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-79)
doc Letter from Seiichi Okine to Masao Okine, May 3, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-79)
A letter from Seiichi Okine in the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas, to his son, Masao Okine in Fort Meade, Maryland. Seiichi asks questions regarding the family allowance application. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_18_001
[Japanese American soldiers] (ddr-csujad-5-20)
img [Japanese American soldiers] (ddr-csujad-5-20)
A photograph of three Japanese American soldiers taken in Silver Springs, Florida in June 1945. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_004
Envelope from H. Sugimoto to Mrs. Ayame Okine, July 8, [1945] (ddr-csujad-5-85)
doc Envelope from H. Sugimoto to Mrs. Ayame Okine, July 8, [1945] (ddr-csujad-5-85)
An envelope mailed from Hidematsu Henry Sugimoto in Camp Blanding, Florida, to Ayame Okine in the Rohwer incarceration camp, Arkansas. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_23_001
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