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)

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1145 items

img Okinawan burial tomb (ddr-densho-179-42)

Sgt. Bob Oda and Sgt. Akira Nakamura spent one night in this family burial tomb during Oct. 9, 1945 Okinawa typhoon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-42/

doc Drawing done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-194)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-194/

doc Leaflet: Proclamation to the Civilians of Okinawa from the Commander in Chief of the American Forces (ddr-densho-179-229)

Leaflet dropped on Okinawa by the U.S. military.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-229/

img Nisei soldier wearing a Japanese military uniform (ddr-densho-179-99)

Sgt. Akira Nakamura wearing the uniform of a Japanese soldier with rifle.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-99/

doc Ryuukyuu Shuuhou newspaper article: "Germany Surrenders" (ddr-densho-179-234)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-234/

img U.S. generals (ddr-densho-179-57)

Brig. Gen. Cannon & General Stilwell.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-57/

doc Calligraphy done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-181)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-181/

img Okinawan civilians (ddr-densho-179-146)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-146/

img Okinawans working in rice paddies (ddr-densho-179-126)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-126/

img Japanese military representatives at Peace Treaty Conference (ddr-densho-179-52)

Lt. Comm. Sato, Lt. Col. Nakamizo, Japanese army and navy representatives from Amami gunto for Peace Treaty Conference.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-52/

doc Calligraphy done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-197)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-197/

img U.S. soldiers (ddr-densho-179-58)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-58/

doc Ryuukyuu Shuuhou newspaper article (ddr-densho-179-235)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-235/

doc Leaflet: The American Army is the friend of all (ddr-densho-179-228)

Leaflet dropped on Okinawa by the U.S. military.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-228/

doc Drawing done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-187)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-187/

img Japanese prisoner emerging from a cave to surrender (ddr-densho-179-122)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-122/

doc Leaflet X-8 (ddr-densho-179-226)

Leaflet dropped on Okinawa by the U.S. military.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-226/

img U.S. soldiers (ddr-densho-179-165)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-165/

doc Drawing done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-203)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-203/

doc Drawing done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-189)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-189/

doc Drawing done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-193)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-193/

img Aftermath of battle (ddr-densho-179-121)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-121/

doc Calligraphy done by a Japanese prisoner of war (ddr-densho-179-179)

Given to a Nisei soldier with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service who was interrogating Japanese prisoners in Okinawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-179/

img Peace treaty signing (ddr-densho-179-163)

Left to right: T/3 Tamotsu Matsumoto, T/Sgt. Warren S. Sakuma "Pop", T/3 Robert Oda, T/3 Akira Nakamura.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-179-163/

img Matsuo Sakagami (ddr-densho-201-853)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-201-853/