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 (283)
Military service (4309)
Military Intelligence Service (1389)

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1389 items

doc Jimmie Matsumura interview form (ddr-densho-1007-1004)

Used for the film The Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1004/

av Interview with Harry Fukuhara, part 3 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1634)

Fukuhara discusses his relationship with the Mount family, his time in the Gila internment camp, volunteering for the military from camp, his time in military language school, and the possibility of being captured by the Japanese military. Video ends at 19:49. Original title: 119, II SJ #25, 8-17-85, Fukuhara, Harry's house. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1635/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1634/

doc MIS 50th anniversary reunion panelist list and Loni notes (ddr-densho-1007-1104)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1104/

doc Military Intelligence Club of Southern California August 1986 Newsletter (ddr-densho-1007-945)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-945/

doc Mits Usui interviewee form (ddr-densho-1007-1137)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1137/

doc John F. Aiso biographical data (ddr-densho-1007-934)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-934/

doc MIS 50th Anniversary speech order (ddr-densho-1007-1443)

Speeches given at the MIS 50th Anniversary Reunion in October 1991.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1443/

doc Letter from Richard Oguro to Loni Ding (ddr-densho-1007-942)

Recounts the stories and service of Frank Fujita and Sergeant T. Fudenna.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-942/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 3 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1547)

Kawamoto discusses serving in the MIS while his parents were interned, draft resistance, and his attitude toward the US during the war. Video starts at 0:56. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 99, II NY #31, Channel #1 Audio Kawamoto. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1548/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1547/

av Conversation between John Burden and Shig Kihara, part 1 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1653)

Burden and Kihara discuss Burden's childhood in Japan, his service in Southeast Asia with the 37th Division, leading the first Nisei soldiers into battle at Guadalcanal, the early days of the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Video starts at 0:43. Original title: 138, II B/K #1, Burden/Kihara, Cressey Field, 12/18/85. Conversation continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1654/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1653/

av Ishii family b-roll (ddr-densho-1007-1572)

No audio, video starts at 0:58. B-roll of various pictures belonging to the Ishiis, several of Chris' service, some pamphlets that Chris presumably designed. Original title: 69, II NY #56, 6-85, Ishii Family Pix

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1572/

av Interview with John Burden and Shig Kihara, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1788)

Burden discusses the diaries collected from Japanese soldiers, translating the souvenirs American soldiers collected, Nisei soldiers attempting to get Japanese citizens and soldiers to surrender, and speaking to Japanese prisoners of war. Kihara discusses the efforts of Nisei on Saipan/Iwo Jima/Okinawa to rescue Japanese citizens and soldiers. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1788/

doc MIS 50th anniversary reunion panel discussion program (ddr-densho-1007-1084)

Loni Ding listed as special commentator.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1084/

doc Nisei Linguists -- Eyes and Ears of Allied Pacific Forces (ddr-densho-1007-1384)

Author unknown, possibly Dick Hayashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1384/

doc Rocky Mountain MIS Veterans Club autobiographies (ddr-densho-1007-1093)

Collection of several autobiographies, varying in length and detail, of members of the Rocky Mountain MIS Veterans Club. Nobuo Furuiye's is particularly heavily underlined, perhaps by Loni Ding.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1093/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 4 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1548)

Kawamoto reads through a letter he wrote from the south Pacific to a camp newspaper in Topaz, talks about his service, and tells a few war stories. Also mentions the atomic bombs. Video starts at 0:59. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 49, II NY #32, 6-85, Kawamoto. Interview continues …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1548/

av Interview with John Aiso, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1576)

Aiso discusses his relationships with students at the MISLS, the background of those enrolled, and the relationships between Nisei and white students. Video starts at 0:30. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 73, II LA #3, 7-23-85, Judge Aiso III, Interview in Law Library Cont. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1577/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1576/

av Interview with Sho Nomura, part 6 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1615)

Nomura and Loni Ding look through a photo album of his, with several photos from his service in China. Nomura recounts several stories relating to the documents and photos in the album. Original title: II LA #45, 7-25-85, Sho Nomura Interview VI

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1615/

doc MIS 50th anniversary reunion registration list (ddr-densho-1007-1090)

Includes full names, spouses, and cities of residence.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1090/

av Interview with Manny Goldberg, part 3 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1564)

Goldberg discusses his service in Saipan and Iwo Jima, particularly extracting Japanese soldiers from caves. Video starts at 0:52. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II NY, #48, 6-85, Goldberg. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1565/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1564/

av Interview with Manny Goldberg, part 4 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1565)

Goldberg discusses the United States' engagement on Iwo Jima, army distrust of Nisei personnel, trying to capture Tadamichi Kuribayashi, and working with prisoners of war on Iwo Jima. Video starts at 0:52. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 62, II NY #49, 6-85, Goldberg. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1566/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1565/

doc 442nd RCT/100th Battalion/MIS Film Project meeting notes (ddr-densho-1007-877)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-877/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 2 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1618)

Oka on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Oka tells the story of an encounter with General John DeWitt. The three then discuss their service in the Pacific theater. and working with Japanese prisoners of war. Video starts at 0:22. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1618/

av Interview with Harry Fukuhara, part 4 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1635)

Fukuhara discusses the danger of being mistaken for a Japanese soldier and his experiences interrogating Japanese prisoners of war. Video starts at 0:49. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 120, II SJ #26, 8-17-85, Fukuhara, Harry's house, 8/17/18, reel #26. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1636/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1635/

av Interview with Harry Fukuhara, part 5 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1636)

Fukuhara discusses combat operations in Japan, the atomic bombs, his experiences in Hiroshima before and after the bombing, and the role of Nisei in postwar Japan. Video starts at 0:34. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 122, II SJ #28, 8-17-85, Harry's house. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1637/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1636/