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)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
John Aiso, Fort Snelling, Masaji Marumoto, Jack Matsuoka, Military Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence Service Language School, Walter Tsukamoto, Karl Yoneda

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1180 items
Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-45-31)
vh Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-45-31)
A Kibei perspective on U.S. military service and serving the occupation forces
Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-45-18)
vh Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-45-18)
Finishing basic training and being assigned to the Military Intelligence Service
Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 55 (ddr-densho-1000-153-55)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 55 (ddr-densho-1000-153-55)
Tutoring Caucasian junior officers in Japanese language

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as such.

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 49 (ddr-densho-1000-153-49)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 49 (ddr-densho-1000-153-49)
Being warned not to volunteer for the military's "spy school," but deciding to go anyway

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who …

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 83 (ddr-densho-1000-153-83)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 83 (ddr-densho-1000-153-83)
Taking a side trip to Hiroshima while stationed in Japan

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as such.

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 84 (ddr-densho-1000-153-84)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 84 (ddr-densho-1000-153-84)
Reactions to visiting Hiroshima after the atomic bombing

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as such.

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 53 (ddr-densho-1000-153-53)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 53 (ddr-densho-1000-153-53)
Dynamic between Kibei and Nisei at the MIS language school

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as such.

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 48 (ddr-densho-1000-153-48)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 48 (ddr-densho-1000-153-48)
Seizing an opportunity to leave camp by volunteering for the army

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as …

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 51 (ddr-densho-1000-153-51)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 51 (ddr-densho-1000-153-51)
Being inducted into the Military Intelligence Service

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves as such.

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 52 (ddr-densho-1000-153-52)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 52 (ddr-densho-1000-153-52)
Description of relationship between Kibei and Nisei at Camp Savage, Minnesota; thoughts on the level of Japanese language education at the language school

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of …

Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 54 (ddr-densho-1000-153-54)
vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 54 (ddr-densho-1000-153-54)
Assigned to tutor junior officers in Japanese language while at Camp Shelby, Mississippi

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify …

Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-102-23)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-102-23)
Serving in Japan during the postwar occupation, managing a hotel in Tokyo
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-102-18)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-102-18)
Serving in the Military Intelligence Service in MacArthur's headquarters
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-102-19)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-102-19)
Reviewing top secret documents for the U.S. while being tailed by the U.S. Counterintelligence Corps at the same time
Eddie Owada Interview Segment 21 (ddr-manz-1-37-21)
vh Eddie Owada Interview Segment 21 (ddr-manz-1-37-21)
Selected for the Military Intelligence Service, wanting combat duty
Kenji Tomita Interview Segment 12 (ddr-ajah-1-3-12)
vh Kenji Tomita Interview Segment 12 (ddr-ajah-1-3-12)
Serving with the Military Intelligence Service in Japan
Richard Kosaki Interview Segment 15 (ddr-janm-13-1-15)
vh Richard Kosaki Interview Segment 15 (ddr-janm-13-1-15)
Volunteering as a language instructor in the Military Intelligence Service; an interesting story about a fellow soldier

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 …

Mitsue Matsui Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1008-3-18)
vh Mitsue Matsui Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1008-3-18)
Reaction to dropping of atomic bomb over Hiroshima

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

Mitsue Matsui Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1008-3-21)
vh Mitsue Matsui Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1008-3-21)
Thoughts on the atomic bombings

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

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