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 (277)
Military service (4131)

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4131 items

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-111)

Request for assistance changing Tsai's status to Chinese Formosan, friendly alien, and a path to U.S. citizenship [final draft]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-111/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. E. M. Hudgins to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-157)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. Hudgins is Tsai's supervisor in current Military Intelligence Service position. Hudgins offers strong support for his character, ability, assistance to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-157/

doc Letter from George "Jack" H. Kerr to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-158)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. Kerr offers strong support for Tsai's character, ability, and assistance to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-158/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Lt. George Kerr (ddr-densho-446-132)

Reply to telegram: Tsai is available

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-132/

doc Letter from Col. J. R. Lovell to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-162)

Letter from certifying Tsai's employment with commendation for his excellent work of great value to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-162/

doc Letter from Edward J. Ennis to Ai Thich Tsai (ddr-densho-446-116)

Acknowledges request for assistance in changing alien status. U.S. law offers no way to do this except by complying with naturalization statutes. Recommends contacting Immigration and Naturalization Services Department in Philadelphia.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-116/

doc Letter from George "Jack" H. Kerr to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-99)

Kerr is shocked at Tsai' status as "enemy" alien; offers to write to Taylor, Deputy Director for the Far East. Recommends Tsai write to Robert Cashman for a letter explaining the situation.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-99/

doc Telegram from Lt. George Kerr to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-136)

Telegram inviting Tsai to come to New York at earliest convenience. Handwritten note on reverse.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-136/

doc Letter from Lt. James T. Watkins, IV, USNR - Translation Unit, to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-144)

Letter of recommendation for Ai Chih Tsai detailing his work with Military Government Research Unit No. 2.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-144/

doc Two notes: Nisei battalion and conversation in novel (ddr-densho-468-169)

Two handwritten notes on notecards taped to a sheet of paper.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-169/

doc Story outline and short story: John Citizen Junior (ddr-densho-468-66)

Typed outline and draft of story set in World War II

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-66/

doc Notice of Involuntary Separation (ddr-densho-446-150)

Advice of Personnel Action. Involuntary Separation from Office of War Intelligence since Tsai is a Japanese subject.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-150/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-118)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. As Tsai's immediate chief, Moses has a strong personal interest in this case and requests that every effort be made to change Tsai's registration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-118/

doc Letter from Elmer Davis, Director of Office of War Information, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-107)

Tsai cannot work for the government as long as he is classified as a citizen of an enemy country.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-107/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-122)

Request for executive action to change status to "friendly alien" based on prior work for U.S. government in order to avoid deportation, to avoid consequences for wife and baby, and to allow Tsai to be considered for employment in the American Consulate in Formosa and Chinese Embassy [final draft]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-122/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-98)

Appeal to U.S. President to change Tsai's status so he can work for U.S. in the occupation and rehabilitation of Formosa. Tsai is one of two Chinese Formosans in US. [final draft]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-98/

doc Statement of Release (ddr-densho-446-141)

Tsai has been employed by Columbia University on behalf of U.S. Navy. He will be available for other employment as of September 30, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-141/

doc Letter from Lt. George Kerr to Selective Service Board 88 (ddr-densho-446-138)

Certifying that Tsai has been employed by the Naval School for Military Government and Administration for full-time work as of May 1, 1944. Details of Tsai's unique language abilities and source of information. Work is confidential.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-138/

doc Statement of Release (ddr-densho-446-94)

US Navy's Statement of Release for Ai Chih Tsai on December 31, 1944, from US Naval School of Military Government Translation Unit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-94/

doc Notice of Official Efficiency Rating (ddr-densho-446-174)

Excellent

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-174/

doc Letter from Robert Cashman to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-103)

Cashman vouches for Tsai. Cashman explains that he advised Tsai to cancel his application for Chinese citizenship and thus friendly alien status.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-103/

doc Letter from Lt. George Kerr to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-134)

Offer of position in Navy-Columbia University project as a research analyst and instructor. Mostly translation and research. Research Unit 2.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-134/

doc Letter from F.W. Cleaves, U.S. Naval Reserve (ddr-densho-446-95)

Letter of certification of Tsai's employment at Columbia University in Translation Unit since October 1944 and before that in Research Unit 2. Cleaves vouches for Tsai's loyalty, integrity, and work of great value to the U.S. Navy and U.S. war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-95/

doc Letter from Edwin F. Stanton, Deputy Director, Office of Far Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State, to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-110)

Acknowledgement of receipt of letter to the State Department. US position on Chinese Formosans not determined yet, but safe to assume a sympathetic friendliness attitude. Recommends contacting Department of Justice. Enclosed is Cairo Declaration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-110/

doc A Myopic Account of a Relocated Life during the Second World War (ddr-densho-468-97)

Personal recollections of life in an assembly center and relocation camp for Japanese descendants and various digressions

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-97/