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 Arthur (Art) Morimitsu, part 4 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1752)

Morimitsu discusses the difficulty of getting promoted in the MIS and his time in Burma. Video starts at 0:17. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the background. Original title: 61B, II VFW #4, VFW - LA, Art Morimitsu, Feb. 15, 1987. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1753/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1752/

av Interview with Harry Fukuhara, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1699)

Fukuhara discusses how he approached interviewing prisoners of war, his relationship with Caucasian soldiers in the military, and the risk of being captured by the Japanese military. Video starts at 0:25. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 214, II JA #38, Harry Fukuhara, Sun. Feb. 2. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1700/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1699/

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/

doc MIS 50th Anniversary speeches (ddr-densho-1007-1442)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1442/

av Interview with Manny Goldberg, part 6 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1567)

Goldberg discusses a souvenir sword from Iwo Jima, not getting a Silver Star, his relationship with the Nisei soldiers he served with, a particular PoW extraction on Iwo Jima, and a letter written by a PoW named Yutaka "Shorty" Hashimoto. Interview starts at 1:58. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1567/

av B-roll and interview with John Aiso, part 1 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1574)

Aiso discusses the creation of the Military Intelligence Service Language School and the first students. Video starts at 0:33. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 71, II LA #1, 7-23-85, Judge Aiso I, Lobbt est. shots Security Pacific, beginning of law library. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1575/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1574/

doc The Military Intelligence Service Language School narrative (ddr-densho-1007-1383)

Page 1 is missing.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1383/

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/

doc 442nd/MIS invite list for Nisei Soldier screening (ddr-densho-1007-1022)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1022/

doc Letter to Loni Ding from Dick (ddr-densho-1007-1382)

Exact identity of author unknown. Possibly Dick Hayashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1382/

img Harry Fukuhara (ddr-densho-1007-224)

From folder labeled "Harry Fukuhara".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-224/

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/

doc George Kanegai interview notes (ddr-densho-1007-916)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-916/

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 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/

av Interview with Manny Goldberg, part 5 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1566)

Goldberg discusses his service on Iwo Jima, his encounter with Takeshi Mori, "souvenir hunters", and swords. Video starts at 0:54. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 63, II NY #50, 6-85, Manny Goldberg Souvenir Swords. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1567/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1566/

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/

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/

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/

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

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