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

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 6 (August 6, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-31)

Selected article titles: "Japan Revision of WW2 History Angers Neighbor Asian Nations" (pp. 1, 6), "Congressional Subcommittee Approves $300,000 for CWRIC" (pp. 1-2), "Justice Dept. Says Japan Firms 'Conspired' to Raise Prices" (p. 1), and "From the Frying Pan: Time to Bury the 'Secrecy Myth' of MIS" (p. 5).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-54-31/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 3 (July 16, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-28)

Selected article titles: "IBM Case Adds Friction to U.S.-Japan Trade" (pp. 1, 5), "Mineta Urges Fifth Preference to Remain in Immigration Law" (pp. 1, 4), "Census: 5,000 in U.S. Turn 65 Years of Age Every Day" (pp. 1, 8), and "Ye Editor's Desk: 100/442nd/MIS Museum Foundation" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-54-28/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 112, No. 4 [February 1, 1991] (ddr-pc-63-4)

Select article titles: "Civil Liberties of Arab Americans in U.S. May Be Threatened by FBI, Mineta Warns" (p. 1), San Fernando Valley Japanese School Plagued by Vandals; Racism Not Seen" (p. 1), "MISLS Graduates: Caucasians Completing Studies Were Commissioned, but Not Nisei" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-63-4/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 114, No. 1 (January 3-10, 1992) (ddr-pc-64-1)

Select article titles: "1991- A year of hate crimes" (p. 1); "Mistaken for Korean, Thai women is beaten" (p. 1); "Man sues for false arrest in temple murders" (p.1); "Nisei in the Military Intelligence" (p. 6).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-64-1/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 6 (August 27-September 2, 1993) (ddr-pc-65-31)

Select article titles: "JACL calls for investigation in shooting death of Japanese student" (p. 1); "Discussing the...'Real World of Asians'" (p. 1); "Senate fails to include funds for redress education" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-65-31/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 117, No. 17 (November 12-18,1993) (ddr-pc-65-42)

Select article titles: "Japan-Louisiana group formed in response to Hattori tragedy" (p. 1); "Arrest made in Sacramento firebombings" (p. 1); "University newsletter's cartoon called racist" (p. 1); "Monument placed at first MIS School site" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-65-42/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 122, No. 6 (March 15-April 4, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-6)

Selected article titles: "PC Editorial Board to Seek Return to Weekly" (pp. 1, 10), "Oahu Monument Honors 100th, 442nd, MIS Vets" (p. 3), "Bill to Make English Official Language Opposed" (p. 3), and "East Wind: Asian Americans in Politics" (pp. 8, 11).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-68-6/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 123, No. 10 (November 15-December 19, 1996) (ddr-pc-68-22)

Selected article titles: "National Day of Remembrance Planned in D.C. Feb. 19, 1997" (pp. 1, 12), "Study: Most Asians Americans in Bay Area Voted for Clinton, Against Proposition 209" (pp. 1, 12), "New Board Steadies Eye on JACL's Fiscal Integrity" (p. 1), and "East Wind: 'Other MISers'" (pp. 8, 12).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-68-22/

img Toshikuni Taenaka in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-93)

A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier, in US Army uniform with Private First Class insignia on the arms. He poses, siting on a military bed. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_035

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-93/

img Toshikuni Taenaka in US Army service uniform (ddr-csujad-25-64)

A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier, in US Army service uniform with a metal eagle insignia hat. The photograph is probably taken in Brighton, Colorado, where his parents reside. The same image is found in item: uscb_jia_0121. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_006

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-64/

img Japanese American soldiers in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-111)

A photograph of Japanese American soldiers in US Army uniform. They pose sitting on the ground. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_053

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-111/

img Toshikuni Taenaka in US Army combat uniform (ddr-csujad-25-60)

A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier, in US Army combat uniform, resting with other soldiers. Inscription on the back of the photograph reads: 4-42, me. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-60/

img Toshikuni Taenaka in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-71)

A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier, in US Army uniform with Private First Class insignia on the arm and a gas mask. He poses, holding a gas mask and standing in front of the house where his parents most likely reside in Brighton, Colorado. See this object in the California State Universities …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-71/

img Japanese American soldiers in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-110)

A photograph of Japanese American soldiers in US Army uniform. They pose standing outside. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_052

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-110/

doc Christmas menu (ddr-csujad-49-139)

Christmas menu from the Military Intelligence Service Language School Company "C" School Battalion meal with handwritten notes by Sue Ogata Kato. An item from: pages 86-87 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_057_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-139/

doc Yaban gogai, vol. 1, no. 9 (December 1945) (ddr-csujad-49-128)

MIS Language School's Overseas Publication titled, "Yaban Gogai," Volume 1, Issue 9. An item from: pages 82-83 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_055_02

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-128/

doc New MISLS student library opens; Your inquiring fotographer; MIS Language School holds first graduation on the Post (ddr-csujad-49-82)

Newspaper clippings about activities at Military Intelligence Service Language School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Items from: pages 66-67 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_045_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-82/

img Japanese American soldier, Camp Savage, Minnesota (ddr-csujad-25-114)

A photograph of a Japanese American soldier in US Army uniform. He poses, lying down on a military bed. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_056

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-114/

doc Post Photo Shop's order envelop (ddr-csujad-25-126)

An envelope to order film developing. The order is filled by Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_068

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-126/

img Japanese American soldier in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-109)

A photograph of a Japanese American soldier in US Army uniform with Technician Fifth Grade (T/5) insignia on the arm. He crouches, feeding pigeons. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_051

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-109/

img Japanese American soldiers, Camp Savage, Minnesota (ddr-csujad-25-117)

A photograph of four Japanese American soldiers playing cards in a room of US military facilities. The photograph is probably in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_059

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-117/

img Japanese American soldier in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-125)

A photograph of a Japanese American soldier in US Army uniform with Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) insignia on the arm. He crouches, feeding pigeons. The photograph is probably taken in Camp Savage, Minnesota. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_067

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-125/

doc Domain of Neptunus Rex (ddr-csujad-25-127)

A certificate for line-crossing ceremony issued on a US Navy ship during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_072

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-127/

img Toshikuni Taenaka in US Army uniform (ddr-csujad-25-66)

A photograph of Toshikuni Taenaka, a Japanese American Nisei/Kibei soldier, in US Army uniform with Private First Class insignia on the arm and a helmet. He poses, standing in front of the house where probably his parents reside in Brighton, Colorado. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_08_01_008

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-66/

img Ukichi Taenaka's family, Japan (ddr-csujad-25-284)

A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are twelve photographs of Ukichi Taenaka's wife and son in Japan. Also include Toshikuni Taenaka in US military uniform. The photographs are most likely taken in the late 1940s during the occupation of Japan when Toshikuni Taenaka is deployed. See this object in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-284/