1. Topics

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 (228)
Pre-World War II service (55)

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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55 items
Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-45-15)
vh Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-45-15)
Being drafted when the U.S. military was refusing Japanese American volunteers
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-45-15/
Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-45-17)
vh Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-45-17)
Being drafted, and basic training
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-45-17/
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-102-10)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-102-10)
Mobilizing after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-102-10/
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-102-12)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-102-12)
Removal and evacuation of Japanese American servicemen
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-102-12/
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-102-9)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-102-9)
Hearing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor while on leave from Fort Lewis
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-102-9/
Bill Thompson Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-90-12)
vh Bill Thompson Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-90-12)
Hawaiian Japanese Americans rush to volunteer for service after the bombing of Pearl Harbor

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Given the full conference schedule, interviews conducted at the reunion were shorter in length than typical Densho interviews and concentrated on a single topic, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-90-12/
Bill Thompson Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-90-14)
vh Bill Thompson Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-90-14)
Honoring the Varsity Victory Volunteers, Japanese American ROTC students in Hawaii

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Given the full conference schedule, interviews conducted at the reunion were shorter in length than typical Densho interviews and concentrated on a single topic, namely, the individual's …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-90-14/
Minoru
vh Minoru "Min" Tsubota Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-149-23)
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor while on a military base: separated from unit along with other Japanese Americans
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-149-23/
Minoru
vh Minoru "Min" Tsubota Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-149-22)
Volunteering for the army: joining the infantry band
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-149-22/
Minoru
vh Minoru "Min" Tsubota Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-149-24)
Arrival at Fort Bliss, Texas, disappointment at being given menial tasks
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-149-24/
Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-23-22)
vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-23-22)
Military service: from 1-A to "enemy alien" to volunteer
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-23-22/
George S. Matsui Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1008-2-5)
vh George S. Matsui Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1008-2-5)
The reclassification and discharge of Nisei soldiers to an enlisted reserve unit

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-2-5/
George S. Matsui Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1008-2-4)
vh George S. Matsui Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1008-2-4)
Basic training and reconnaissance training as an early draftee

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-2-4/
George S. Matsui Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1008-2-3)
vh George S. Matsui Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1008-2-3)
Drafted into the army in early 1941

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-2-3/
George Koshi Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1008-1-8)
vh George Koshi Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1008-1-8)
Turmoil of Japanese American servicemen: fighting while their families are behind barbed wire

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-1-8/
George Koshi Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1008-1-14)
vh George Koshi Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1008-1-14)
Writing to father while in the service

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-1-14/
George Koshi Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1008-1-7)
vh George Koshi Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1008-1-7)
Attitude of father regarding military service: "You're an American citizen"

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-1-7/
George Koshi Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1008-1-5)
vh George Koshi Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1008-1-5)
Drafted into the army

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-1-5/
Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1008-5-10)
vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1008-5-10)
Removal and evacuation of Japanese American servicemen

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-5-10/
Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1008-4-10)
vh Takashi Matsui Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1008-4-10)
Being drafted when the U.S. military was refusing Japanese American volunteers

Members of the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) arranged for and conducted this interview in conjunction with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1008-4-10/
Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-3-5)
vh Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-3-5)
Being stripped of weapons by the War Department after 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-3-5/
Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-4-5)
vh Edward H. Mitsukado Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1007-4-5)
Leaving for military training on the mainland, saying goodbye to parents

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-4-5/
Harry Umeda Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1014-10-9)
vh Harry Umeda Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1014-10-9)
Drafted in 1941, separated with other Nisei soldiers and sent to the infantry
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1014-10-9/
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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-21-3/
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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-21-1/
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