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 (239)
Military service (3289)
Military Intelligence Service (1180)

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1180 items

doc Keynote Talk: Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-353)

Notes for Taiwanese American Historical Society Keynote Talk on May 17, 2017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-353/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-118)

Letter in support of Tsai's requests to change his status to friendly alien. As Tsai's immediate chief, Moses has a strong personal interest in this case and requests that every effort be made to change Tsai's registration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-118/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (ddr-densho-446-122)

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 [final draft]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-122/

doc Rev. Ai Chih Tsai Biography and Legacy (ddr-densho-446-352)

Powerpoint for Taiwanese-American Historical Society Exhibit presented on May 17, 2017

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-352/

doc "My Life Begins" (ddr-densho-446-350)

My Life Begins (autobiography): Ai Chih's parents, conversion to Christianity, education in Japan, arrival in US on student visa, U of Chicago, Robert Cashman, Keimer Shou, Japanese Christian Church (Chicago), War, Ordination, Meeting Ryo, Marriage, Navy-Columbia U, War Dept.-D.C., MD, US Strategic Bombing Survey, UNRRA

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-350/

doc Notice of Official Efficiency Rating (ddr-densho-446-174)

Excellent

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-174/

doc Letter from Joseph Savoretti to Lt. Col. Merillat Moses (ddr-densho-446-120)

Acknowledgement of receipt of letter from June 21. Department of Justice has discontinued practice of amending registration records and cannot consider Tsai's request.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-120/

doc Letter from Major Robert S. Loney to whom it may concern (ddr-densho-446-159)

Letter of recommendation for Ai Chih Tsai detailing his work as a research analysis with the U.S. War Department

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-159/

doc Ryo Morikawa Recollections (ddr-densho-446-349)

Autobiography: Ryo's parents, Life in San Diego, 11 months in Japan, Evacuation, Married Life

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-349/

doc Letter from Robert Cashman to Lt. George H. Kerr, Department of War, Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-446-75)

Response to Lt. Kerr's letter: Cashman had previously counseled Tsai to maintain his Japanese citizenship; Cashman recommends Tsai's character and recommends him for service. Also includes discussion of Professor Minoru Tabuchi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-75/

doc Military Intelligence Division War Department Certificate for Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-395)

Certificate of Appreciation from the Military Intelligence Division, War Department to Ai Chih Tsai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-395/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Immigration and Naturalization Service (ddr-densho-446-160)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-160/

doc Letter from Lt. Col. Merillat Moses to Joseph Savoretti (ddr-densho-446-121)

Requests advice on the next steps Tsai should take. Also requests the return of the correspondence Tsai sent.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-121/

doc Letter from Velma N. Baldwin to Ai Chih Tsai (ddr-densho-446-153)

Inquiring if Ai Chih Tsai is available for an appointment in the Military Intelligence Service as an "Expert"; "work...of an extremely classified nature utilizing your knowledge of Japanese and Chinese"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-153/

doc Letter from Ai Chih Tsai to Velma N. Baldwin (ddr-densho-446-106)

Thank you for letter. Tsai will report for duty as instructed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-106/

doc Pacific Times: Rev. Ai Chih Tsai: Memories by His Children (ddr-densho-446-351)

Article submitted for publication in the Pacific Times on May 3, 2017.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-351/

doc Letter from Major Robert S. Loney to Lt. Col. Merillat Moses Chief, Military Branch, Military Intelligence Service (ddr-densho-446-161)

Commendation for Ai Chih Tsai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-161/

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/