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 (277)
Military service (4131)
Military Intelligence Service (1387)

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1387 items

doc Intelligence School Certificate for Hideo J, Iwataki (ddr-ajah-2-835)

supplemental scan on ddr-ajah-2-745

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-835/

img Man sitting at desk (ddr-ajah-2-690)

Caption below photo: Lt. Edward G. Cowan Detroit, Michigan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-690/

doc Front page of Free Philippine newspaper with headline "It's All Over!" (ddr-ajah-2-832)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-832/

doc Timeline of Joe Iwataki's military service, WWII (ddr-ajah-2-837)

Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-29

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-837/

img General George Strong speaking at podium (ddr-ajah-2-561)

Caption below photo: General Strong

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-561/

img Two men in park. Joe Iwataki on left (ddr-ajah-2-608)

Caption below photo: Schrader. Caption on left: Botanical Gardens Brisbane

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-608/

img Joe Iwataki and woman standing in park (ddr-ajah-2-488)

Caption below photo: Joanne

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-488/

img Large building with columns (ddr-ajah-2-693)

Caption below photo: Post Office Building

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-693/

img Man in uniform standing by tree (ddr-ajah-2-434)

Caption below photo: Yuko Kawamoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-434/

img Five men standing outside tents (ddr-ajah-2-634)

Caption below photo: Don / Bernie / Cox / Bill / Bene

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-634/

doc Letter of recommendation for Joe Iwataki from G.L. Magruder (ddr-ajah-2-833)

Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-748

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-833/

img Classroom with men studying at desks and wooden burning stove (ddr-ajah-2-805)

Caption: Nisei soldiers study in a classroom at Camp Savage, Minnesota, where the Military Intelligence Service Language School was held during WWII. At far left is their "sensei" or instructor, Mr. Itami. October 1942 to June 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-429 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-805/

img Two men leaning on railing (ddr-ajah-2-720)

Caption below photo: bill / Tak

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-720/

img Man looking at camp on hillside from above (ddr-ajah-2-623)

Caption below photo: Sea Bee Camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-623/

img Man kneeling outside building (ddr-ajah-2-546)

Caption below photo: Eddy Mitsukado / our 1st Sgt at Snellling

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-546/

img Row of cots (ddr-ajah-2-775)

Caption: Saturday Inspection of Joe Iwataki's barracks at Camp Crowder in Missouri. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA., April 8 to October 1942. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-382 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-775/

img Train on tracks through canyon (ddr-ajah-2-781)

Caption: U.S. Army soldiers, including Joe Iwataki (he is taking the photo) guard train tracks, tunnels and bridges in January 1942, near Belden, CA.. Iwataki was from Alameda, CA. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-326 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-781/

img Group portrait of men in uniform (ddr-ajah-2-811)

Caption: Nisei soldiers from Barracks 15, Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) Camp Savage, Minnesota, April 24, 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-743 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-811/

img Man speaking at podium (ddr-ajah-2-567)

Caption below photo: Representative of Hennepin County Bar Ass'n

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-567/

img Log building (ddr-ajah-2-423)

Caption below photo: Day room

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-423/

img Large building with columns (ddr-ajah-2-728)

Caption below photo: Japanese Diet Building

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-728/

img Building with flags (ddr-ajah-2-619)

Caption below photo: A.M.P. Building

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-619/

img Yasuharu Koike and another solider in temple entrance (ddr-ajah-2-866)

Caption below photo: Yasuharu Koike (at left) , of Alameda, CA., enjoys himself while touring India in 1944. Koike served with the MIS in Burma-China-India campaign during WWII.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-866/

img Men in uniform posing for group photo outside camp buildings (ddr-ajah-2-531)

Caption below photo: The members

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-531/

img Man sitting at desk (ddr-ajah-2-689)

Caption below photo: S/Sgt William Finkeldey Hasting-on-Hudson, N.Y.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-689/