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 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/

doc Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Christian Mission in North America. This book traces the history of JCC within the larger setting of national and local events, and some of the photos and narratives may be of interest. Ai Chih Tsai was pastor at JCC from 1948 to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-455/

doc Letter from Joseph Savoretti to Lt. Col. Merillat Moses (ddr-densho-446-120)

Acknowledgement of receipt of letter from June 21. Department of Justice has discontinued practice of amending registration records and cannot consider Tsai's request.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-120/

doc Letter from Lt. George Kerr to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-142)

Letter recommending Ai Chih Tsai for another position. Tsai has been working for Kerr since April 29, 1944. Translation Unit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-142/

doc Letter from Major Robert S. Loney to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-159)

Letter of recommendation for Ai Chih Tsai detailing his work as a research analysis with the U.S. War Department

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-159/

doc Letter from Robert Cashman to Lt. George H. Kerr, Department of War, Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-446-75)

Response to Lt. Kerr's letter: Cashman had previously counseled Tsai to maintain his Japanese citizenship; Cashman recommends Tsai's character and recommends him for service. Also includes discussion of Professor Minoru Tabuchi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-75/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-160)

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-446-160/

doc Letter from Robert Cashman to Lt. George Kerr (ddr-densho-446-135)

Tsai has received forms, accepts salary, and is ready to go to NYC.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-135/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Joseph Savoretti (ddr-densho-446-121)

Requests advice on the next steps Tsai should take. Also requests the return of the correspondence Tsai sent.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-121/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Selective Service Board 88 (ddr-densho-446-152)

I was discharged from Office of War Intelligence due to "enemy alien" status.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-152/

doc Letter from Velma N. Baldwin to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-153)

Inquiring if Ai Chih Tsai is available for an appointment in the Military Intelligence Service as an "Expert"; "work...of an extremely classified nature utilizing your knowledge of Japanese and Chinese"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-153/