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

doc MIS Calendar titled "The Secret MIS Weapon" (ddr-ajah-2-24)

Calendar of sketches referencing the experiences of MIS soldiers. Signed on January page by Jack Matsuoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-24/

img Portrait of Richard S. Oguro, autographed on front (ddr-ajah-2-736)

Caption below photo: Sgt. Richard S. Oguro Honolulu

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-736/

img Group of men and women posing in line (ddr-ajah-2-495)

Caption below photo: Aiso / Grew / Stuart

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-495/

img Man sitting at desk (ddr-ajah-2-687)

Caption below photo: Major Robert P. McCampbell Omaha, Nebraska

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-687/

img Group of men sitting on lawn (ddr-ajah-2-507)

Caption below photo: Bull session

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-507/

img Man wearing Minnesota t-shirt leaning on fence (ddr-ajah-2-575)

Caption below photo: Naotsuzuku Jim Miyasaki

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-575/

img Man sitting in grass (ddr-ajah-2-570)

Caption below photo: Fred Nakahara

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-570/

img Seven men posing for photo by trees (ddr-ajah-2-668)

Caption below photo: Again

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-668/

img View looking out over city (ddr-ajah-2-591)

Caption below photo: Panoramic view of Brisbane

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-591/

img Portrait of Joe Iwataki (ddr-ajah-2-771)

Caption: Joe Iwataki at Fort Ord, near Monterey, CA., He was from Alameda, CA. 1941. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-735 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-771/

img Five men outside camp building in snow. Joe Iwataki on far left (ddr-ajah-2-457)

Caption below photo: Tak / Moff / Hooch / Yuki

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-457/

img Two men standing outside tents (ddr-ajah-2-576)

Caption below photo: Ken Ota / Ken Kawaguchi

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-576/

img Two men in park (ddr-ajah-2-607)

Caption below photo: Gene Schrader / Dave Siegel. Caption on right: Botanical Gardens Brisbane

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-607/

img Man looking out over city, with clock tower in background (ddr-ajah-2-599)

Caption below photo: Phil Honsberger

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-599/

img Group standing by airplane (ddr-ajah-2-714)

Caption below photo: Japanese Delegation

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-714/

img Buildings with wall and trees (ddr-ajah-2-725)

Caption below photo: Part of Imperial Palace

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-725/

img Men cleaning in field with tents (ddr-ajah-2-764)

Caption: G.I.s clean up (kitchen patrol) at a camp near Longview, Washington after maneuvers in late 1941. Supplemental scan on ddr-ajah-2-265 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-764/