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 (2824)
Military Intelligence Service (1146)

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1146 items

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-254)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he details his thoughts and feelings about recent news of governmental attempts to bar Japanese Americans from returning to the West Coast and the recent rulings in EO9066 test cases. He then continues the letter by describing a recent carnival near the base and movies he …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-254/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-253)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he recounts reading a pamphlet she sent him, and wonders if she or someone shouldn't write a book about the real camp experience.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-253/

doc Letter to Katherine Gray from Yuri Domoto (ddr-densho-356-257)

Letter to Katherine Gray from Yuriko Domoto Tsukada ordering 6 cakes of soap to be shipped to Yoshito Shibata as a Christmas gift.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-257/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-230)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he discusses his report on his recruitment trip to WRA camps, his recent trip to Minneapolis, his thoughts on Christmas in the army vs. in camp, and censorship of the mail. While in Minneapolis visited a florist that use to do business with the Domoto Bros …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-230/

doc Letter and photos to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-264)

Letter and three photographs to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata. In the letter he talks about the things he has seen on the front, his feelings on death, news from their hometowns and mutual friends, and his opinion on if Yuri should relocate. Mailed with the letter are three photographs, the first one is of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-264/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-232)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he acknowledges receiving two letters from Yuri, what the Christmas celebration was like at Camp Savage, the response to his report on the recruitment trip to WRA camps, meeting Chris Ishii, the change in daily routine at Camp Savage to include more physical training, inquires into …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-232/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-246)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he informs Yuri about the beautiful views from Angel Island and his plan to visit the Bay Area again to see his family's nursery and possibly visit their Alma Mater (University of California, Berkeley).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-246/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-238)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata while en-route to visit his family at Tule Lake. In the letter he explains his sudden trip to visit family, and why the letter is brief.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-238/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-245)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he describes a visit to the Domoto Family's nursery in Hayward which was under the care of Pete Milan.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-245/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-243)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he describes plans to visit areas around the San Francisco Bay while he is temporarily station there, a concern locals will report his unit to the FBI, and a desire to be transferred to the front soon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-243/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-236)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he talks about the press a Marine office gave about Nisei soldiers learning Japanese in Minnesota and using it in the Pacific theater, the announcement of the formation of 442nd/100th Battalion, a recent proposal to relocate Japanese Americans into Midwestern states in defense and agricultural jobs, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-236/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-259)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he talks about the difficulties of writing on a train by candlelight, his recent assignment to a Marine unit, responses to a letter Yuri wrote to him, facts about trains in Australia, his feelings on question 28, and inquires if the Domoto family has plans to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-259/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-263)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he speaks of his feelings for the loss of Kanetaro Domoto (Yuriko's father) and provides comfort and sympathy to Yuriko.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-263/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-234)

Letter to Yuri Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he thanks Yuri for her gift of sweets, and how it was shared with many members of his class. He continues on and explains the current schedule at Camp Savage, and an offer to buy items for the Domotos in Minneapolis. He also inquires about her …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-234/

doc Draft of letter to Yoshito Shibata from Yuri Domoto (ddr-densho-356-250)

Draft of a letter to Yoshito Shibata from Yuri Domoto Tsukada in which she talks about the dusty weather at Amache, the pain of evacuation, her family's joy at hearing from him, and notification of the birth of a nephew.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-250/

doc Letter to Takeko Miyagi from Bill Miyagi (ddr-densho-416-14)

Letter to Takeko Miyagi from her older brother William "Bill" Miyagi. Bill writes that he received Takeko's letter, and he cannot send her the pictures he took at Poston as his camera has been stolen. He also writes that his schooling at Fort Snelling had not yet started.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-416-14/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. E. M. Hudgins to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-157)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. Hudgins is Tsai's supervisor in current Military Intelligence Service position. Hudgins offers strong support for his character, ability, assistance to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-157/

doc Letter from George "Jack" H. Kerr to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-158)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. Kerr offers strong support for Tsai's character, ability, and assistance to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-158/

doc Letter from Col. J. R. Lovell to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-162)

Letter from certifying Tsai's employment with commendation for his excellent work of great value to US war effort.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-162/

doc Keynote Talk: Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-353)

Notes for Taiwanese American Historical Society Keynote Talk on May 17, 2017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-353/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-118)

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-446-118/

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 Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-352)

Powerpoint for Taiwanese-American Historical Society Exhibit presented on May 17, 2017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-352/

doc "My Life Begins" (ddr-densho-446-350)

My Life Begins (autobiography): Ai Chih's parents, conversion to Christianity, education in Japan, arrival in US on student visa, U of Chicago, Robert Cashman, Keimer Shou, Japanese Christian Church (Chicago), War, Ordination, Meeting Ryo, Marriage, Navy-Columbia U, War Dept.-D.C., MD, US Strategic Bombing Survey, UNRRA

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-350/

doc Notice of Official Efficiency Rating (ddr-densho-446-174)

Excellent

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-174/