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

av Interview with George Nakamura, part 4 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1683)

Nakamura discusses the relationship between the American military and the Chinese government, his impression of the Chinese military, and what he's told his children about incarceration and service. He also reads a letter written about his fellow Nisei Sho Numura, who had to have his appendix removed in China. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1683/

av Interview with George Nakamura, part 1 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1680)

Nakamura discusses leaving camp for language school at Camp Savage, his experience in high school, his first encounter with racism in the South while at Camp Shelby, and his experience with racial discrimination as a child and young adult. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the background. Original title: 196, II JA #14, George …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1680/

av Interview with Hoichi "Bob" Kubo (ddr-densho-1007-1762)

Kubo discusses serving with the MIS in the Pacific, Japanese values, his thoughts on war, the death of one of his close friends during the war, his time in Okinawa, the danger of being mistaken for a Japanese soldier, and the threat of poisonous gas from both sides. Interview starts at 0:15. Audio only. Loni Ding …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1762/

doc MIS Northwest newsletter (ddr-densho-1007-1088)

Volume 11, Number 3. Includes information on redress eligibility for WWII veterans.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1088/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 2 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1546)

Kawamoto discusses working in the army's financial department, the internment of his parents, and joining the MIS. Video starts at 0:53. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 48, II NY #30, 6-85, Kawamoto. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1547/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1546/

img Staff Sergeant Kenyo Miyashiro, U.S. Army Interpreter, and family (ddr-densho-1007-253)

Caption on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-253/

av Interview with Jim Ariyasu, part 2 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1597)

Ariyasu discusses his deployment, having to sell a camera of his, the secrecy required of him while serving, the censorship of letters he sent back home, and military language school. Video starts at 0:23. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II LA #24, 7-24-85, Jim Ariyasu Interview III. Interview continues …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1597/

av Roger Daniels interviewed by Kent Hori, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1758)

Daniels discusses what may have happened if the Japanese American community resisted evacuation en masse, how Japanese Americans were placed under 4C (enemy alien, undraftable) status and the military's eventual interest in Japanese Americans (particularly Kibei) for intelligence work, the importance of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the loyalty questionnaire, the persecution …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1758/

av Miscellaneous b-roll for The Color of Honor (ddr-densho-1007-1616)

Certificates, letters, MISLS Album photos. Original title: 96, II LA #46, 7-25-85, Misc. Still Inserts

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1616/

doc John Aiso introduction and remarks (ddr-densho-1007-935)

Given at a special recognition banquet sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-935/

av Interview with Moose (John) Fujikawa, part 4 of 4; interview with Yosh Nakayama, part 1 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1585)

Fujikawa discusses what his children know of the war and the birth of his children. Nakayama discusses how he learned how to speak Japanese and tells the story of an instructor of his who did not understand why a Nisei would not speak fluent Japanese. Video starts at 0:36. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1585/

av Interview with Sho Nomura, part 5 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1614)

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. Video starts at 0:22. Original title: II LA #44, 7-25-85, Sho Nomura Interview V. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1615/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1614/

doc MIS vets in D.C. area, 1987 (ddr-densho-1007-1469)

Includes a few additional handwritten names.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1469/

img Interrogation of Japanese POW in South Pacific (ddr-densho-1007-18)

Caption on back

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-18/

doc Koichi Shibuya interviewee form (ddr-densho-1007-1128)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1128/

av Interview with John Burden and Shig Kihara, part 3 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1790)

Burden discusses his experiences working with Nisei and Japanese soldiers, the Japanese taught to the US Marines, the cultural overlaps between Nisei and Japanese nationals, the importance of military intelligence and the Nisei, how he kept his soldiers safe, and taking Atabrine (mepacrine) while serving. Eric Saul and Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1790/

doc MIS Association of Northern California meeting minutes from February 22, 1987 (ddr-densho-1007-1466)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1466/

doc MIS personnel killed in WWII (ddr-densho-1007-1467)

Lists soldiers by region.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1467/

doc Iwao Yamaguchi interviewee form and notes (ddr-densho-1007-1127)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1127/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 1 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1545)

Kawamoto discusses his childhood in Berkeley, his high school colleauges, Pearl Harbor, being drafted, and trying to get a job pre-war. Video starts at 1:01. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 47, II NY #29, 6-85, Kawamoto. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1546/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1545/