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 (218)
Military service (1161)
Military Intelligence Service (664)

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664 items

img Four mess workers at Fort Snelling (ddr-densho-328-64)

Matsuo Sakagami second from left.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-64/

img Ken Kaneshiro in uniform (ddr-densho-328-339)

Caption in album: "1947 / Ken Kaneshiro of Hawaii."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-339/

img Mariyo Natsuhara and Matsuo Sakagami (ddr-densho-328-76)

Caption in album: "Mariyo & Matsu."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-76/

img Two MIS soldiers at Fort Snelling (ddr-densho-328-276)

Caption in album: "Eddie, [Matsuo] Sakagami."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-276/

img Matsuo Sakagami in uniform (ddr-densho-328-125)

Caption in album: "Washington / Matsu."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-125/

img Matsuo Sakagami in uniform (ddr-densho-328-75)

Caption in album: "Matsu."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-75/

img Mess workers at Fort Snelling (ddr-densho-328-66)

Matsuo Sakagami far right.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-66/

img Four mess workers holding a "Best Mess MISLS" banner (ddr-densho-328-65)

Matsuo Sakagami kneeling.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-65/

img Matuso Sakagami at Fort Snelling (ddr-densho-328-11)

Caption in album: "Matsu in Fort Snelling."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-11/

img Two servicemen and a baby (ddr-densho-328-74)

Caption in album: "Sam & baby, Matsu."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-74/

img Ken Kaneshiro in from of an orderly room building (ddr-densho-328-337)

Caption in album: "Ken Kaneshiro at California."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-328-337/

doc Military Intelligence Service Language School Graduation Program (ddr-densho-173-1)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-173-1/

doc Military Intelligence Service Language School program (ddr-densho-173-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-173-2/

doc Ryuukyuu Shuuhou newspaper article (ddr-densho-179-237)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-237/

img Military encampment (ddr-densho-179-174)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-174/

img Civilian internment camp (ddr-densho-179-148)

A kitchen in Taira civilian internment camp. The woman on the right is from Naha City, Okinawa. Behind her is Sgt. Harry Okano.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-148/

img Representatives at a negotiation session (ddr-densho-179-86)

Representatives making preliminary negotiations for the surrender of the Ryukyus Islands to the Commanding General of the Tenth Army. Civilian Interpreter Weri Takemura who once lived in Chicago,and Major General Toshiro Taga who represented Lieutenant General Toshiro Nomi, Japanese Commander of Sakishima. Photographer: Lieutenant Stauch.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-86/