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 Joe Iwataki sitting at desk (ddr-ajah-2-685)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-685/

img Four men on skis (ddr-ajah-2-791)

Caption: Nisei pals take advantage of the winter conditions at Camp Savage, Minnesota. They are members of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). October 1942 - June 1943 / Hayr Sekiya / Joe Iwataki of Alameda, CA., / Moff Ishikawa / Hachiya, Frank. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-466 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-791/

img Round memorial with columns (ddr-ajah-2-589)

Caption below photo: Anzac Memorial

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-589/

img Man in long underwear in barracks (ddr-ajah-2-537)

Caption below photo: Taro Yoshihashi / must be wintertime

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-537/

img Barracks (ddr-ajah-2-424)

Caption below photo: Barrack 9

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-424/

img River through city (ddr-ajah-2-695)

Caption below photo: Pasig River which divides Manila

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-695/

img View of street through town (ddr-ajah-2-648)

Caption below photo: Main street, Tacloban

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-648/

img Section 10 class, Camp Savage Minn. (ddr-ajah-2-19)

Names written on front with some names cut off. Note attached to back with names

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-19/

img Man looking at notebook (ddr-ajah-2-505)

Caption below photo: Is he asleep?

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-505/

img Portrait of Douglas MacArthur, autographed on front (ddr-ajah-2-826)

Caption: Gen. Douglas MacArthur, hand written signature, in blue ink on a black and white print. Tokyo 1945. Collection of Joe Iwataki, who served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in the South Pacific during WWII where MacArthur also served. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-742 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-826/

img Man standing outside G-2 building (ddr-ajah-2-821)

Caption: Bernie Strain at the G-2 (Intelligence_ building in Tolosa, Philippines, WWII, 1945. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-653 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-821/

doc Program for the 2nd National Reunion of MIS Veterans (ddr-ajah-2-25)

Includes full directory of MIS veterans. Contact information redacted

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-25/

img Men shoveling snow from roof of barracks (ddr-ajah-2-782)

Caption: Snow makes life for Army soldiers difficult. Location is either Belden, in Northern California, or somewhere near Reno, Nevada. The U.S. Army sent Joe Iwataki ad his outfit to this area of California to guard trains, tracks and tunnels. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA. January 1942. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-290 with additional notes.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-782/

img Three women and two men in uniform having a picnic (ddr-ajah-2-523)

Caption below photo: Mary Ann / Mizota / Cosmo / Mary

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-523/

img View of building (ddr-ajah-2-597)

Caption below photo: Commercial Bank Bldg A.M.P. G.H.Q. Offices / Downtown Brisbane / Our office - top floor C.B.B.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-597/

img Two men sitting on park bench (ddr-ajah-2-601)

Caption below photo: Remo / Taro

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-601/

img Man sitting at desk (ddr-ajah-2-702)

Caption below photo: Sgt Henry R. Schmidt Wichita, Kansas

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-702/

img Man standing next to structure (ddr-ajah-2-571)

Caption below photo: Bud Uyeda

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-571/

img Inside of barracks with cots (ddr-ajah-2-765)

Caption: Barracks interior, Fort Ord, near Monterey, CA, 1941. Probably the barracks of Joe Iwataki of Alameda, CA. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-157 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-765/

img Four men outside tents. Joe Iwataki second from right (ddr-ajah-2-633)

Caption below photo: Bill / Bene / Bernie / Our Tent

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-633/

img View of island (ddr-ajah-2-671)

Caption below photo: Corregidor

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-671/

img Joe Iwataki standing by palm trees (ddr-ajah-2-660)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-660/

img Man standing at entrance to railway tunnel (ddr-ajah-2-779)

Caption: During WWII, U.S. Army soldier Howie Hurst guards a train track and tunnel in January 1942, somewhere in the Feather River Canyon of Northern California. The canyon is located along Highway 70 between Oroville and Quincy. Howie's fellow soldier, Joe Iwataki, is taking the photo. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-315 with …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-779/

img Group of men in uniform with cameras (ddr-ajah-2-12)

At Camp Savage

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-12/

img View of islands from ship (ddr-ajah-2-645)

Caption below photo: Leyte as seen from our ship "Panama Express"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-645/