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 (231)
Military service (2806)
Military Intelligence Service (1145)

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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1145 items
Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-10-5)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-10-5)
Serving behind enemy Japanese lines in Burma (audio only)

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 reflect the views of the Department of the …

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1007-10-6)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1007-10-6)
The significance of the Japanese POWs' swords (audio only)

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 reflect the views of the Department of the …

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-10-10)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-10-10)
Serving as General Merrill's personal interpreter

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 reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1007-10-4)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1007-10-4)
Being asked to help select the group of volunteers for a secret mission (audio only)

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 reflect the …

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-10-8)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-10-8)
Closeness with fellow soldiers in Merrill's Marauders

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 reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1007-10-2)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1007-10-2)
Interacting with white soldiers on the trip to the mainland

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 reflect the views of the Department of …

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-10-7)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-10-7)
Difficult terrain in Burma; working with soldiers from other countries

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 reflect the views of the Department of …

Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-4-9)
vh Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-4-9)
Being asked to select volunteers for the Merrill's Marauders mission

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 reflect the views of the Department of …

Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-4-7)
vh Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-4-7)
Assigned to the Military Intelligence Service despite low Japanese language test score

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 reflect the views of the …

Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1007-4-6)
vh Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1007-4-6)
Role with Merrill's Marauders: checking bodies of dead soldiers

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 reflect the views of the Department of the …

Kenji Goto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-2-5)
vh Kenji Goto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-2-5)
Requesting overseas service, but kept as language instructor instead

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 reflect the views of the Department of the …

Kenji Goto Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1007-2-3)
vh Kenji Goto Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1007-2-3)
Being placed in charge of the oral language division of the Military Intelligence Service

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 reflect the views …

Kenji Goto Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1007-2-2)
vh Kenji Goto Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1007-2-2)
The lack of commissioned officers among Nisei Military Intelligence Service men

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 reflect the views of the Department …

Kenji Goto Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1007-2-4)
vh Kenji Goto Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1007-2-4)
Experiences teaching in the Military Intelligence Service Language School

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 reflect the views of the Department of the …

Yoshimi Matsuura Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1014-6-25)
vh Yoshimi Matsuura Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1014-6-25)
Being drafted, choosing to join the Military Intelligence Service
Ted Tsukiyama Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1004-22-4)
vh Ted Tsukiyama Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1004-22-4)
The importance of the Kibei in the Military Intelligence Service
Barry Saiki Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-4-5)
vh Barry Saiki Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-4-5)
The important role of the Nisei in the Military Intelligence Service

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 reflect the views of the Department …

Don Okubo Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-21-5)
vh Don Okubo Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-21-5)
Interrogation strategies as a Japanese American interpreter

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 reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Sunao
vh Sunao "Phil" Ishio Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1004-8-10)
Translating the Z Plan

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 reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Sunao
vh Sunao "Phil" Ishio Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1004-8-9)
Translating personal documents of Japanese soldiers

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 reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Sunao
vh Sunao "Phil" Ishio Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1004-8-2)
The roles of Kibei and Nisei in the Military Intelligence Service

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 reflect the views of the Department …

Shigeya Kihara Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1004-23-3)
vh Shigeya Kihara Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1004-23-3)
Being recruited to teach Japanese despite having no prior teaching experience

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 reflect the views of the Department …

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