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)

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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1387 items
Roy Takai Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1004-5-3)
vh Roy Takai Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1004-5-3)
Description of work translating documents

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.

Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-20-5)
vh Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1004-20-5)
Translating a critical captured Japanese military register

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.

Hiro Nishimura Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-237-17)
vh Hiro Nishimura Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-237-17)
The competitive nature of training for the Military Intelligence Service
George Yamada Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-187-24)
vh George Yamada Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-187-24)
Memories of the Military Intelligence Service

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

George Yamada Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-187-23)
vh George Yamada Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-187-23)
Serving stateside with the Military Intelligence Service

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1007-1-11)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1007-1-11)
Positive and negative memories of assignment in Burma

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.

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1007-1-12)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1007-1-12)
A frightening experience in Burma, protection for Nisei 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 …

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-1-10)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-1-10)
Eating fallen pack mules as conditions worsened in Burma

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 …

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1-8)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1-8)
Feeling close kinship with other Nisei 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 …

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-1-7)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-1-7)
Deciding to volunteer for a dangerous mission with 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 …

Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-1-9)
vh Howard H. Furumoto Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-1-9)
Difficult conditions in Burma affect health of the 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 …

Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1007-9-11)
vh Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1007-9-11)
Volunteering for a special mission in France

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.

Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-9-10)
vh Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1007-9-10)
Finding a critical Japanese document

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.

Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-9-9)
vh Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-9-9)
Graduating from language school and assigned to the Pentagon

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 …

Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-9-8)
vh Kazuo Yamane Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-9-8)
Feeling close to fellow Nisei 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.

Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-3-9)
vh Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-3-9)
The important role of Nisei in the postwar occupation of Japan

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 …

Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-3-7)
vh Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-3-7)
The difficulties faced by Nisei in the Military Intelligence Service because of secrecy

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 …

Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-10-9)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1007-10-9)
Techniques for interrogating Japanese prisoners of war

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 3 (ddr-densho-1007-10-3)
vh Herbert Y. Miyasaki Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1007-10-3)
Thoughts about officers 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 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 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 …

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