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 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/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-38-25)

Returning home after being injured

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-25/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-38-19)

Experiencing a different racial climate, being Nisei in the segregated South

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-19/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-38-21)

Trying to find a captured prisoner again years later

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-21/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-38-26)

Military Intelligence Service duty in the Pacific, encountering Japanese soldiers

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-26/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-38-20)

Techniques for interrogating Japanese prisoners

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-20/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-38-18)

Being recruited for the Military Intelligence Service

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-18/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-38-22)

Former Japanese prisoners of war visit the U.S.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-22/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-38-24)

Narrowly surviving an enemy attack, receiving near fatal wounds

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-24/

vh Spady Koyama Interview I Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-38-23)

Obtaining important information through prisoner interrogations

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-38-23/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-123-22)

Drafted into U.S. Army, enduring basic training and attending the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-22/

vh Grant Hirabayashi Interview Segment 38 (ddr-densho-1000-183-38)

Involvement with the war crimes trials in Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-183-38/

vh Grant Hirabayashi Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-183-26)

Description of dramatic siege at Nhpum Ga

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-183-26/

vh Grant Hirabayashi Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-183-24)

Descriptions of fellow soldiers' outstanding work in the field

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-183-24/

vh Grant Hirabayashi Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-183-23)

Description of mission in Burma

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-183-23/

vh William Marutani Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-44-2)

Serving in the U.S. occupation forces in Japan, confronting racism while in uniform

This interview was conducted at the Voices of Japanese American Redress Conference, held on the UCLA campus and sponsored by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. Because of the full conference schedule, our …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-44-2/

vh Kiyoshi Seishin Yamashita Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-265-17)

Teaching at the U.S. Naval Intelligence Language School

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-265-17/

vh Kiwamu "Kiyo" Tsuchida Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-405-20)

Serving with the MIS in the Philippines

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-405-20/