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 Annotated message from General John Weckerling (ddr-densho-1007-1115)

Likely annotated by Loni Ding.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1115/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 5 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1774)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1620/. Oka is on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Ito discusses the deaths of two Nisei on his team and the fear of being mistaken for a Japanese soldier. Oka discusses being interviewed for military intelligence at Camp Carson in Colorado, being treated differently than Caucasian soldiers, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1774/

doc MIS Intelligencer Volume 21 No. 1 (ddr-densho-1007-1459)

The Intelligencer was the newsletter of the MIS veterans association of northern California. Includes tributes to John Aiso and a review of The Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1459/

av Interview with Chris Ishii, part 6 of 7 (ddr-densho-1007-1560)

Ishii discusses a poster he made during service in China, racial discrimination in the US, meeting and marrying his wife, and his father's death. Video starts at 0:50. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 59, II NY #44, 6-85, Ishii. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1561/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1560/

av Interview with Sho Nomura, part 4 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1613)

Nomura discusses his service in Yan'an, China with the Dixie Mission and meeting the future leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. Nomura references photos from his personal albums while telling stories. Video starts at 0:23, interview ends at 11:28. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Then until 17:35 is b-roll of photos …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1613/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 7 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1775)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1621/. Oka is on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Yagi discusses his family (some of whom were near Hiroshima at the time of the bomb) and their situation after the war, being discharged from the military, joining and working for the post office, and wanting to switch …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1775/

av Interview with Harry Akune, part 3 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1756)

Akune discusses volunteering for the military from camp and advice he got from his old schoolteacher after volunteering. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 65B, II VFW #8, Roll 9, Harry Akune, 2-15-87, VFW-LA

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1756/

doc George Kanegai interview notes (ddr-densho-1007-915)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-915/

doc America's Superb Secret Human Weapon (ddr-densho-1007-1386)

Author unknown, associated with the Presidio Army Museum and the Northwest MIS veterans assocation.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1386/

av Interview with Moose (John) Fujikawa, part 2 of 4 (ddr-densho-1007-1583)

Fujikawa discusses working on a sugar beet farm during internment, his decision to volunteer for the army, his relationship with his parents, his service with ATIS in Australia and with the Australian army in the Pacific. Video starts at 0:26. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II LA #10, Fujikawa …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1583/

doc MIS 50th Anniversary panel discussion program (ddr-densho-1007-1444)

Panel discussions held at the MIS 50th Anniversary Reunion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1444/

doc Kanshi Stanley Yamashita interviewee form and dissertation abstract (ddr-densho-1007-1126)

Likely used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1126/

doc Incomplete letter from Bennie K. Ouchida to Richard Oguro (ddr-densho-1007-938)

Contains a few war stories.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-938/

doc Letter from Henry Gosho to Loni Ding (ddr-densho-1007-1096)

Relates to planning for the MIS 50th anniversary reunion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1096/

doc List of MIS and 442nd soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery (ddr-densho-1007-1468)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1468/

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 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 Aiso interview questions (ddr-densho-1007-936)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-936/

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/

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/

av Interview with Harry Fukuhara, part 5 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1701)

Fukuhara discusses the role of Nisei in the occupation, the Japanese reaction to occupation, the difficulties of occupation, and the occupation in Okinawa. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 216, II JA #40, Harry Fukuhara, Sun. Feb. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1701/

av Interview with Don Oka, Steve Yagi, and Shigeo Ito, part 6 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1621)

Continued from ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1774/. Oka on the left, Yagi in the center, and Ito on the right. Oka talks about his work with Yagi in post-war Japan. The three discuss their encounters with Japanese citizens after the war, particularly victims of the atom bombs. Video starts at 0:21. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1621/

av Interview with Manny Goldberg, part 1 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1562)

Goldberg discusses his service on Iwo Jima and Saipan, his work with Nisei, his education at New York University and the University of Michigan, his time at the MISLS, his thoughts on evacuation/internment and the difference in treatment of white and Nisei students at the MISLS. Video starts at 0:36. Loni Ding can be heard asking …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1562/

doc Masaomi Jim Mita interviewee form (ddr-densho-1007-1121)

Used for the film Color of Honor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1121/