Pre-World War II service

Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, approximately 5,000 Japanese Americans were already in the U.S. Army, most having been drafted. When war broke out, some Nisei soldiers were discharged, while others were placed in noncombat positions at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Still others were overlooked by the military bureaucracy and continued in their positions. During this chaotic time, all other Nisei were reclassified 4-C, the status of "enemy alien," and therefore became ineligible for the draft.

Military service (223)
Pre-World War II service (54)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Fighting for Tomorrow: Japanese Americans in America's Wars (exhibition), Samuel Wilder King, Tokutaro Slocum, Walter Tsukamoto

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54 items
Letter from Cedrick M. Shimo to the Office of Redress Admnistration [Administration], December 4, 1990 (ddr-csujad-24-73)
doc Letter from Cedrick M. Shimo to the Office of Redress Admnistration [Administration], December 4, 1990 (ddr-csujad-24-73)
A letter from Cedrick Shimo to the Office of Redress Administration arguing that Manabi Matoba is entitled to a redress payment. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: chi_05_007
Tadashi Kanemoto interview (ddr-csujad-6-11)
doc Tadashi Kanemoto interview (ddr-csujad-6-11)
Oral history interview with Tadashi Kanemoto. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_KANEMOTO_TADASHI
Mamoru Masuda interview (ddr-csujad-6-21)
doc Mamoru Masuda interview (ddr-csujad-6-21)
Oral history interview with Mamoru Masuda. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_MASUDA_MAMORU
Chester and Akiko Lillian Sasashima (ddr-csujad-8-97)
doc Chester and Akiko Lillian Sasashima (ddr-csujad-8-97)
Oral history interview with Chester and Akiko Lillian Sasashima. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Sasashima, Chester and Lillian
World War I soldier (ddr-densho-109-106)
img World War I soldier (ddr-densho-109-106)
The man on the left, Henry Matsumoto Jr., was the only person of Japanese descent in the U.S. Navy during World War I.
Selective Service training (ddr-densho-114-96)
img Selective Service training (ddr-densho-114-96)
Original caption: Selective Service man of Japanese ancestry proudly looks over his daily rifle score record. Reception Center, Hawaii. [According to Robert Sato, this photo was taken before 1941.]
Selective Service training (ddr-densho-114-83)
img Selective Service training (ddr-densho-114-83)
Original caption: Selective Service man of Japanese ancestry learns to "hold and squeeze" - Reception Center, Hawaii. [According to Robert Sato, this photo was taken before 1941.]
Parade in Mo'oheau Park (ddr-densho-492-24)
img Parade in Mo'oheau Park (ddr-densho-492-24)
Photograph of a large group of sailors from the Anegawa Maru marching through a crowd in Mo'oheau Park. Written on the front of the photograph in the upper left corner is "Hilo" in blue ink. Written on the back is "Anegawa's sailor are marching at Mooheau Park before the Selebratio [sic] at Mooheau Hall Oct. 9th …
Two boats (ddr-densho-492-54)
img Two boats (ddr-densho-492-54)
Photograph of two boats with Anegawa Maru sailors seated and standing. Written in the upper left corner is "Hilo" in blue ink. Written on the back is "Amigawa's [sic] officers crossing Bay" in black ink.
Anegawa Maru (ddr-densho-492-59)
img Anegawa Maru (ddr-densho-492-59)
Photograph of Anegawa Maru in Hilo Bay. Written on the back is "Amigawa [sic] Kan" in black ink.
[Newspaper articles from
doc [Newspaper articles from "Pacific citizen"] (ddr-csujad-1-192)
Newspaper clippings from "Pacific citizen" published on November 22, 1991. Includes two articles collecting Nisei Military Intelligent Service's experience. "Surviving and spying behind enemy lines" written by Harry K. Honda, Senior editor, Pacific Citizen, describes Sakakida's story of wartime intrigue, which was delivered at the MIS 50th anniversary reunion dinner on October 31, 1991. "Anecdotes by …
Soldier and mother (ddr-densho-151-45)
img Soldier and mother (ddr-densho-151-45)
Original WRA caption: Florin, Sacramento County, California. A soldier and his mother in a strawberry field. The soldier, age 23, volunteered July 10, 1941, and is stationed at Camp Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was furloughed to help his mother and family prepare for their evacuation. He is youngest of six years children, two of them volunteers …
Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-151-312)
img Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-151-312)
Original caption: Florin, California. This American soldier of Japanese ancestry is shown at the railroad station of a small town in an agricultural community. He and nine other service men of Japanese ancestry received furloughs to enable them to come home to assist their families get ready for evacuation from their west coast homes. He is …
Corporal Henry Tatsumi (ddr-densho-353-208)
img Corporal Henry Tatsumi (ddr-densho-353-208)
Captioned: "E Co. 75th Infantry Camp Lewis, now Fort Lewis."
Yoshito Shibata Autobiography (ddr-densho-356-267)
doc Yoshito Shibata Autobiography (ddr-densho-356-267)
Autobiography of Yoshito Shibata, details his time in the U.S. Army between 1941 and 1946. In 1941 he was part of the Finance office, in 1942 he attended the Language School at Camp Savage, in 1943 he was deployed to the Pacific Theatre and was stationed there until 1946.
85th Infantry Training Battalion Company (ddr-densho-356-50)
img 85th Infantry Training Battalion Company (ddr-densho-356-50)
Panaramic photograph of the 85th Infantry Training Battalion Company C 3rd Platoon at Camp Roberts.
Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tomi Domoto (ddr-densho-356-289)
doc Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tomi Domoto (ddr-densho-356-289)
Four letters stored in one envelope to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from her cousin Tomi Domoto. Appears the letters were mailed separately and later stored together in one envelope. 6/8 letter: discusses events leading up to forced removal, inquires about how family are settling into the camp and how hers is and mutual friends. 8/8 letter: discusses …
Sailors in Jefferson Park (ddr-densho-383-34)
img Sailors in Jefferson Park (ddr-densho-383-34)
Written on album page below photograph: "Japanese Sailors Jefferson Park"
Ben Kuroki - Shige Kuroki Interview Segment 1 (ddr-densho-122-21-1)
vh Ben Kuroki - Shige Kuroki Interview Segment 1 (ddr-densho-122-21-1)
Description of flying in a B-24 bomber during World War II

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

Ben Kuroki - Shige Kuroki Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-21-3)
vh Ben Kuroki - Shige Kuroki Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-122-21-3)
Reasons for wanting to fly a B-29 in combat, the only Japanese American to do so

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are …

George Azumano Interview Segment 12 (ddr-one-7-32-12)
vh George Azumano Interview Segment 12 (ddr-one-7-32-12)
Being drafted into the army before the bombing of Pearl Harbor

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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