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 Telegram from U.S. Office of War Information Personnel Office to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-155)

Telegram asking Tsai to report for interview.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-155/

doc Letter from Major Robert S. Loney to Lt. Col. Merillat Moses Chief, Military Branch, Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-446-119)

Commendation for Ai Chih Tsai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-119/

doc Military Intelligence Service Language School Special Personal History Statement (ddr-densho-410-606)

Blank form, sent to Tomoye Takahashi

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-606/

img Two men in uniform (ddr-ajah-6-29)

Caption below photo: Great friends Kenji Tomita (left) and Dan Mashihara. Both were from Alameda, CA., circa 1946, Tokyo, Japan. Both men served with the Military Intelligence Service, but not did not work together.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-29/

img Two men in uniform (ddr-ajah-6-45)

Caption above photo: Kenji Tomita and Dan Mashihara of Alameda, CA., in Tokyo 1946. Caption includes details of Kenji and Dan's military service in WWII

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-45/

doc Intitutional factors in Japanese nationalism (ddr-csujad-55-2572)

Military syllabus entitled, "Institutional Factors In Japanese Nationalism" taught by Shigeya Kihara at the Military Intelligence Service Language School in Savage, Minnesota. This was restricted information for use of Military Personnel Only and not to be republished. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2736

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2572/

doc Appeal to Americans of Japanese Ancestry (ddr-csujad-55-754)

Statement regarding recruitment of Nisei linguists for the Military Intelligence Language School at Camp Savage, Minnesota. Provides a background on the school and appeal to prospective students. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0756

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-754/

doc Letter to the people of Japan (ddr-csujad-55-2574)

A letter to the people of Japan is condensed from the Kiwanis Magazine, February 1942. Copies of this document were airdropped over Japan by the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2738

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2574/

doc Reinstitution of selective service (ddr-csujad-55-758)

Booklet titled: Reinstitution of selective service: summary of the policies of the selective service system, War Department, and W. R. A. which affect Nisei. Contents include: Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Statement of principles; Selective service training and service act of 1940 as amended; Selective service policy; Induction of United States citizens …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-758/

doc Certificate (ddr-csujad-55-153)

Certificate of completion for Frank M. Iritani from the Military Intelligence Service Language School. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0155

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-153/

doc MISLS album (ddr-csujad-55-369)

Album commemorating the history and activities of the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). Includes history, staff, and information about MISLS locations including the Presidio, Camp Savage, and Fort Snelling. Includes photographs. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0371

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-369/

doc Military Intelligence Service Language School Christmas Festival Service (ddr-csujad-55-155)

Program for the Christmas Festival Service at the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Includes order of the service, songs, readings, and prayers. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0157

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-155/

doc Postcard from Sgt. Frank Honda to Iku Morita (ddr-densho-497-4)

Postcard of La Cathedrale vue du Quai de la Joliette, also know as Marseille Cathedral in Marseille, France.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-497-4/

img Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-34-60)

Toshio Chihara (middle row, third from left) graduated with his class at the Military Intelligence Service School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-60/

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/