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 (2806)
Military Intelligence Service (1145)

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1145 items

doc W.D. Form 67: Request and Authorization for Civilian Travel at Government Expense (ddr-densho-446-170)

Travel Authorization for Ai Chih Tsai, Research Analyst, from Washington, D.C., to Camp Ritchie, MD, for 30 days.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-170/

doc Army Service Forces FPI Form No. 2 (ddr-densho-446-156)

Form describing Tsai's travel and dates, purpose, expertise.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-156/

doc Carbon copy letter from Ai Chih Tsai to J.Y. Lai (ddr-densho-446-414)

Responding to Mr. Lai's letter about the history of Christians in Taiwan. (3 pages)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-414/

doc W.D. Form 67: Request and Authorization for Civilian Travel at Government Expense (ddr-densho-446-171)

Travel Authorization for Ai Chih Tsai, Research Analyst, from Washington, D.C., to Camp Ritchie, MD, for 30 days.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-171/

doc Letter from George "Jack" H. Kerr to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-114)

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-446-114/

doc Letter from Velma N. Baldwin to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-102)

Offering position of Expert at $10/day while employed by Military Intelligence Service of the War Dept. with explanation that "work would be of an extremely confidential nature"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-102/

doc Letter from Velma N. Baldwin to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-105)

Instructions to report to Pentagon Building on February 5, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-105/

doc W.D. Form 67: Request and Authorization for Civilian Travel at Government Expense (ddr-densho-446-172)

Travel Authorization for Ai Chih Tsai, Research Analyst, from Washington, D.C., to Camp Ritchie, MD, for 30 days.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-172/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Velma N. Baldwin (ddr-densho-446-104)

Tsai is ready to report for duty immediately

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-104/

doc W.D. Form No. 50A: Notification of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-446-173)

Ai Chih Tsai's resignation as Military Intelligence Service Analyst to take job with UNRRA on May 15, 1946

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-173/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. E. M. Hudgins to U.S. Department of Justice (ddr-densho-446-115)

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-446-115/

doc Oral Memoirs of Joseph Ishikawa (ddr-densho-468-94)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-94/

doc Letter from Elaine Schulman to Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-154)

Check enclosed ($53.47) for compensation for Tsai's services while employed in Office of War Intelligence.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-154/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-123)

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 [typed draft]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-123/

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/

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/

img Portrait of man in uniform (ddr-ajah-6-43)

Inscribed on front of photo: To the Tsuchiya's / Kenji Tomita. Caption below photo: Kenji Tomita of Alameda, CA. He served with the Military Intelligence Service

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-43/

doc MIS Language School certificate for Dan S. Mashihara (ddr-ajah-6-28)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-28/

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/