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

img Man standing outside tents (ddr-ajah-2-578)

Caption below photo: Joe

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-578/

img Sunken ships in bay (ddr-ajah-2-670)

Caption below photo: Japanese Ships sunk in the bay

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-670/

img View of moat from above (ddr-ajah-2-726)

Caption below photo: Imperial moat

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-726/

doc Program of 30th Anniversary Reunion MIS Veterans (ddr-ajah-2-26)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-26/

img Inside of barracks with cots (ddr-ajah-2-802)

Caption: Barracks 10, where some of the "Sensei" or instructors of Japanese language were housed at Camp Savage, Minnesota. They were there to teach Japanese American Niseis as part of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. October 1942-October 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-431 with additional notes.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-802/

img Man wearing helmet standing outside barracks (ddr-ajah-2-441)

Caption below photo: Iwao Shimamoto

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-441/

img Group of men outside building (ddr-ajah-2-509)

Caption below photo: After the clean up

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-509/

img Man reading at table (ddr-ajah-2-793)

Caption: Lincoln T. Taira studies at Camp Savage, Minnesota, as a member of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), October 1942-June 1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-497 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-793/

img Two men sitting on bench in garden (ddr-ajah-2-786)

Caption: While at Camp Crowder, Missouri, Dick Otsubo of Stockton, CA., and pal Joe Iwataki (at right) of alameda, CA., pose somewhere on the grounds, which they jokingly referred to as "Jimmy Kusuda's garden". Kusuda was another army friend stationed there. Unfortunately, Otsubo died in Italy during WWII. Photo August 26, 1942. Inscription on back: Aug. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-786/

img Group of men around stove (ddr-ajah-2-533)

Caption below photo: Hugging the stove

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-533/

img Building with thatch roof by road (ddr-ajah-2-651)

Caption below photo: Native Nipa huts

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-651/

img Rough wooden structure (ddr-ajah-2-631)

Caption below photo: Native Grave

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-631/

img Six men on road by tents. Joe Iwataki kneeling on right (ddr-ajah-2-657)

Caption below photo: O/B Section

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-657/

img Four people sitting in decorated room (ddr-ajah-2-525)

Caption below photo: Ballroom

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-525/

doc Certification of Joe Iwataki's membership in 53rd Infantry (ddr-ajah-2-827)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-827/

img Men playing pool (ddr-ajah-2-792)

Caption: Sho Ishii and other Nisei Soldiers from the Military Intelligence Service at Camp Savage, Minnesota, find time to enjoy a game of pool at the St. Paul U.S.O. club. The club was located at 72 W. 7th Street, photo October 1942-June1943. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-555 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-792/

img Men resting on hillside (ddr-ajah-2-770)

Caption: Joe Iwataki (far left), of Alameda, CA., relaxes with his pals on the B.A.R. squad while o maneuvers in Washington state, circa late 1941. Joe Iwataki / Pete / Watson / George / Bill / Todard. Note the lack of segregation. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-250 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-770/

img Two men in uniform leaning against wall (ddr-ajah-2-600)

Caption below photo: Bill Cox / Remo Peduzzi

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-600/

img Man standing outside tent (ddr-ajah-2-587)

Caption below photo: Bud Uyeda

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-587/

img Football game in stadium with crowd in bleachers (ddr-ajah-2-515)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-515/

img Row of tents under palm trees (ddr-ajah-2-649)

Caption below photo: Tent area in cocoanut grove

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-649/

img Group of men in uniform holding rifles (ddr-ajah-2-757)

Caption: Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) squad. Fort Ord, CA., at far left, front row, in Joe Iwataki of Alameda, CA. March 1941. Supplemental scan of ddr-ajah-2-58 with additional notes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-2-757/