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 (277)
Military service (4131)
Military Intelligence Service (1387)

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1387 items

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-230)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he discusses his report on his recruitment trip to WRA camps, his recent trip to Minneapolis, his thoughts on Christmas in the army vs. in camp, and censorship of the mail. While in Minneapolis visited a florist that use to do business with the Domoto Bros …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-230/

doc Letter to Katherine Gray from Yuri Domoto (ddr-densho-356-257)

Letter to Katherine Gray from Yuriko Domoto Tsukada ordering 6 cakes of soap to be shipped to Yoshito Shibata as a Christmas gift.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-257/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-254)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he details his thoughts and feelings about recent news of governmental attempts to bar Japanese Americans from returning to the West Coast and the recent rulings in EO9066 test cases. He then continues the letter by describing a recent carnival near the base and movies he …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-254/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-253)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he recounts reading a pamphlet she sent him, and wonders if she or someone shouldn't write a book about the real camp experience.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-253/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-245)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he describes a visit to the Domoto Family's nursery in Hayward which was under the care of Pete Milan.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-245/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Yoshito Shibata (ddr-densho-356-226)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Yoshito Shibata in which he tells about the USO building he is writing this letter from, his urgent need to return to Camp Savage to write up his report on his recent recruitment tour of WRA camps, and of a good Japanese restaurant he visited while on furlough.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-226/

doc Letter from Hachiro Hashiguchi to Haruo Hashiguchi (ddr-densho-474-245)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-245/

av B-roll for The Color of Honor; interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 1 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1617)

Video starts at 0:22. B-roll of photos and documents related to Corregidor Island until 11:11, when an interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito begins. Oka is on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Ito discusses moving from the infantry to interpreter work with the military. The three then …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1617/

doc Minoru (Min) Hara autobiography (ddr-densho-1007-921)

Account of Minoru (Min) Hara's life and service in WWII. Mentions several other Nisei soldiers.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-921/

Balcony conversation between George Kanegai, Yosh Yamada, and Jimmie Matsumura ; interview with Jimmie Matsumura, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1605)

av Balcony conversation between George Kanegai, Yosh Yamada, and Jimmie Matsumura ; interview with Jimmie Matsumura, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1605)

Matsumura discusses his time teaching at the 4th Army Military Intelligence School in San Francisco, his experience with John Aiso, his trouble with white officers, and being denied the rank he was promised. Interview starts at 3:20. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II LA #32, 7-24-85, J. Matsumura Interview …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1605/

doc MIS 50th Anniversary Reunion donor list (ddr-densho-1007-1092)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1092/

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/