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)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
John Aiso, Fort Snelling, Masaji Marumoto, Jack Matsuoka, Military Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence Service Language School, Walter Tsukamoto, Karl Yoneda

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1145 items
Men playing pool (ddr-ajah-2-792)
img Men playing pool (ddr-ajah-2-792)
Caption: Sho Ishii and other Nisei Soldiers from the Military Intelligence Service at Camp Savage, Minnesota, find time to enjoy a game of pool at the St. Paul U.S.O. club. The club was located at 72 W. 7th Street, photo October 1942-June1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-555 with additional notes
Men resting on hillside (ddr-ajah-2-770)
img Men resting on hillside (ddr-ajah-2-770)
Caption: Joe Iwataki (far left), of Alameda, CA., relaxes with his pals on the B.A.R. squad while o maneuvers in Washington state, circa late 1941. Joe Iwataki / Pete / Watson / George / Bill / Todard. Note the lack of segregation. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-250 with additional notes
Group of men in uniform holding rifles (ddr-ajah-2-757)
img Group of men in uniform holding rifles (ddr-ajah-2-757)
Caption: Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) squad. Fort Ord, CA., at far left, front row, in Joe Iwataki of Alameda, CA. March 1941. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-58 with additional notes
Large building with truck in front (ddr-ajah-2-678)
img Large building with truck in front (ddr-ajah-2-678)
Caption below photo: American Red Cross (Formerly a bank bldg)
Group of men by Red Cross canteen truck (ddr-ajah-2-473)
img Group of men by Red Cross canteen truck (ddr-ajah-2-473)
Caption below photo: St. Paul Red Cross Canteen feeds up after Wednesday hikes
Men watching man work on rifle (ddr-ajah-2-751)
img Men watching man work on rifle (ddr-ajah-2-751)
Caption: Basic training for Joe Iwataki, of Alameda, A included taking apart an M1 rifle while he was stationed at For Ord, near Monterey, CA. (Joe is taking this photo) 1941. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-62 with additional notes
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