Military Intelligence Service

The first Japanese Americans to serve in the military during World War II were linguists involved in the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). The MISLS was charged with training soldiers in the Japanese language for intelligence purposes. Japanese Americans served as both instructors and students at the school, which opened on November 1, 1941. The Language School began recruiting instructors and later students directly from concentration camps as early as July 1942. MISLS graduates were assigned in small teams to units fighting in the Pacific and to intelligence centers throughout the Allied command. They translated captured documents, interrogated prisoners of war, wrote propaganda, encouraged Japanese soldiers and civilians to surrender, and monitored radio broadcasts. After the war, they acted as interpreters at the war crime trials and for the occupation government in Japan.

World War II (231)
Military service (2806)
Military Intelligence Service (1145)

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1145 items

img Proofreading military documents (ddr-densho-114-140)

Original caption: Tec 4 [illegible] from Hilo, Hawaii, checks a document to determine its accuracy before it is delivered to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and other Allied military authorities. Proof-reading of all manuscripts and documents for typegraphical errors, is one of the important positions held by both civilian and military Nisei personnel in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-140/

img Mimeograph operator (ddr-densho-114-160)

Original caption: Pfc. Kaichi Fukushima, Nisei Japanese mimeograph operator in the production section, General Headquarters, Allied Forces in the Pacific, Tokyo, Japan, stencils both Japanese characters and English translations out by the typing sub-section. 9-3-46.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-160/

img Nisei linguists attending Japanese language class (ddr-densho-114-166)

Original caption: Nisei Japanese soldiers, interpreters of the linguist section, Allied translator and interpreter section, General Headquarters, Allied Powers in the Pacific, Tokyo, Japan, attend class in legal terminology as part of training program to better their knowledge of the Japanese language. 9-3-46.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-166/

img Nisei soldiers at a dance (ddr-densho-114-469)

Original caption: Civilians and soldiers, attached to the Allied Translator and Interpreter section, General Hq, Army Forces in the Pacific, and quartered in the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Bldg., Tokyo, Japan, attend weekly dance for members of their unit. It is a popular activity in Tokyo planned for the Nisei. 9/3/46.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-469/

img Nisei soldier painting a sign (ddr-densho-114-154)

Original caption: Pfc. Taka Oka, Nisei Japanese sign-painter for the Allied translator and interpreter section, General Headquarters, Allied Powers in the Pacific, Tokyo, Japan, prepares a sign announcing the weekly dance. He is from Seattle, Wash., and a member of the Allied occupation forces in Japan. 9-3-46.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-154/

img Nisei linguists (ddr-densho-114-559)

Nisei linguists marching to Japanese class at the Military Intelligence Service Language School.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-559/

img Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-158)

Original caption: Tec 5 Tom Tashiro (left) of Illinois, Nisei Japanese education counselor and Information and Education non-commissioned officer, advises Pfc. Norman Shimakawa of the 3d Detachment, a typist in the production section, General Headquarters, Allied Powers in the Pacific, on the selection of a course to better his education and to prepare for future schooling. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-158/

img Ranger Hall of Fame medallion presentation (ddr-densho-107-31)

Colonel David Grange presents the Ranger Hall of Fame medallion to Ranger Roy Matsumoto at Ranger Field, Fort Benning, Georgia. Front (L to R): Col. David L. Grange, CO 75th Ranger Regiment and Retired Army Master Sgt Roy H. Matsumoto. Back (L to R): CSM Jesse G. Laye and Col. Michael V. Church CO Ranger Training …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-31/

img Nisei soldier escorting a Japanese officer to a war crimes trial tribunal (ddr-densho-107-37)

Left to right: Lt. Col Matsuura, Liaison Officer of the Imperial Japanese Army, and Msgt Roy Matsumoto of 701st Military Police of China Command. Msgt Matsumoto is escorting Col Matsuura to the War Crimes Tribunal from Ward Road Jail.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-37/

img Military Intelligence Service soldier (ddr-densho-107-23)

This photo was taken right after graduation from Military Intelligence Service Language School at Camp Savage, Minnesota.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-23/

img Nisei soldier being interviewed (ddr-densho-107-33)

S/Sgt. Roy Matsumoto interviewed by British playwright and author Noel Coward. Roy was recovering from an infection from a shrapnel wound on his left wrist, and was questioned about his exploits at Walawbum and Nhpum Ga in the jungles of Burma.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-33/

img Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-107-25)

S/Sgt Roy Matsumoto is at a R and R camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-25/

img Bronze Star presentation ceremony (ddr-densho-107-24)

Front row (L to R): Lt. Roy Nakada, unknown, T/Sgt Roy Matsumoto, unknown, unknown, Lt. George Nakamura, S/Sgt. John Morozumi. Back row: All are unknown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-24/

img Legion of Merit presentation (ddr-densho-107-32)

General Frank D. Merrill, Commanding General of the Merrill's Marauders, congratulating S/Sgt Roy Matsumoto upon the presentation of the Legion of Merit for his exploits at Walawbum, Burma on 5 March, 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-107-32/

img Military Intelligence Service Language School class (?) (ddr-densho-128-155)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-128-155/

av Oral history of Morris and Cherry Abe (ddr-csujad-28-3)

Oral history Interview of Morris and Cherry Abe. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csuci_vcc-jic_0005

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-28-3/

doc Commendation to Heart Mountain resisters and Fair Play Committee (ddr-densho-122-568)

from Military Intelligence Services Association

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-568/

img Barracks building (ddr-ajah-2-776)

Caption: Joe Iwataki's barracks at Camp Crowder, Missouri, April 8 to October 1942. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-380 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-776/

img Man standing outside tents (ddr-ajah-2-578)

Caption below photo: Joe

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-578/

img Sunken ships in bay (ddr-ajah-2-670)

Caption below photo: Japanese Ships sunk in the bay

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-670/

img View of moat from above (ddr-ajah-2-726)

Caption below photo: Imperial moat

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-726/

doc Program of 30th Anniversary Reunion MIS Veterans (ddr-ajah-2-26)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-26/

img Inside of barracks with cots (ddr-ajah-2-802)

Caption: Barracks 10, where some of the "Sensei" or instructors of Japanese language were housed at Camp Savage, Minnesota. They were there to teach Japanese American Niseis as part of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. October 1942-October 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-431 with additional notes.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-802/

img Man wearing helmet standing outside barracks (ddr-ajah-2-441)

Caption below photo: Iwao Shimamoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-441/

img Group of men outside building (ddr-ajah-2-509)

Caption below photo: After the clean up

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-509/