ddr-densho-535 — Tadashi Ishida Collection — Objects

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-1)

First check-in letter, written in Pueblo, CO. Includes a drawing of the Grand Canyon. Written only for Fuku, Tad's mother; it seems his father may have been sick. Tad mentions "Mr. Frank" and friends at the end. Parents' note on envelope back: No. 1 9/6 A.M. 1944 Wednesday Sept 6, 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-1/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-2)

Check-in letter from Memphis, mid-trip to Florida. Parents' note on envelope back: (3) Friday Sept 8, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-2/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-3)

Another check-in from Memphis en route to Florida. Mentions that local Black populations were treated poorly and forced to sit in separate train cars. Parents' note on envelope back: (4) Saturday Sept 9, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-3/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-4)

First letter from Camp Blanding, FL. Mentions Tad's bunkmates: John Miyasaki and Ted Matsushima. Includes a request for a pair of slippers. Parents' note on envelope back: (5) Monday Sept 11, 1944 First letter from Florida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-4/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-5)

Second Camp Blanding check-in. General overview of camp and Tad's experience with kitchen duty. Mentions Katsumi Kawaguchi, another private who knows the Ishida family. Tad says he isn't homesick yet. Also includes a story of Ted Matsushima smoking a cigarette while dead asleep. Ends with regards to Mr. and Mrs. Frank, "the BRATS" and Mr. and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-5/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-6)

Parents' note on envelope back: (7) Wednesday Sept 13, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-6/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-7)

Includes a request for clothes hangers. Mentions that camp is large enough that it'd take a day to walk from one end to the other. Tad calls himself a "busy little man." Parents' note on envelope back: (8) Thursday Sept 14, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-7/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-8)

Tad and Ted Matsushima are squad leaders for drills. Tad mentions that the drills make him hungry; says he "felt like a horse during supper. Parents' note on envelope back: (9) Sept 15, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-8/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-9)

Mentions that there's a hurricane headed for Florida, but since camp is 300 miles away from the tip of FL, Tad isn't worried. Lessons are pretty easy for Tad since he learned a lot of the same stuff in ROTC. In camp, Tad says that "we have our serious moments and our funny ones" and that …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-9/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-10)

Asks that his parents tell To-chan to send him a letter, but not to use difficult words, since Tad's Japanese is rusty. Tad says he wrote to Frank, Bill and Paul. Describes the first hike of training and says there are plans to swim Saturday; the lake at camp is "a little bigger than Lake Merced." …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-10/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-11)

Check-in letter from Camp Blanding, written in four parts throughout the day. Tad asks his parents to send him a book of his on zoology; he says "word got around that I'm a educated character on insects" and that his fellow campers ask him a lot of questions about bugs and animals. Parents' note on envelope …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-11/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-12)

Tad mentions that he was put on kitchen duty again, but didn't mind since he was just waiting tables. Letter is written at 10:40 PM; earlier that day, Tad and his friends went to the movies and saw "Gypsy Wildcat." Says he was able to read To-chan's Japanese letter. The letter ends with Tad asking for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-12/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-13)

Written throughout Sunday, Tad's off day. Says he went to the movies and saw "Greenwich Village." Back of letter has a drawing of Florida that shows the camp's location. Parents' note on envelope back: (14) Wednesday Sept. 20, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-13/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-14)

Tad thanks his parents for sending cookies, saying "considering it's your first, it's very good." Parents' note on envelope back: (15) Thursday Sept 21, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-14/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-15)

Tad says that he received a letter from his grandfather. Also mentions that he got a haircut that looks just like when Okamoto-san would cut his hair. Tad and "the gang" are planning to go to Jacksonville if they get the weekend off, and Tad is a bit worried about running out of money; he says …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-15/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-16)

Tad says they'll start training with live grenades soon. Parents' note on envelope back: (17) Saturday Sept 23, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-16/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-17)

Parents' note on envelope back: (18) Monday Sept 24, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-17/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-18)

Tad learned about explosives that day; the soldiers learned how to make homemade grenades, which he describes in detail. He says "don't worry - I didn't blow anyone up." Mentions that he's getting fitted for new glasses. He broke a pair of his, so he's sending them home with a request for his parents to fix …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-18/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-19)

Tad had a chemical warfare class and got to smell some gases: "boy, it sure stinks!" The soldiers also learned how to use their gas masks. Tad mentions that they all did a trial in a gas chamber where they had to put their masks on the second they detected gas in the room: "I never …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-19/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-20)

Check-in letter from Camp Blanding, written on a Sunday. Tad asks for heavy wool socks. Says that he plans to go see "Kismet" tonight. Mentions that he went to church that morning. Parents' note on envelope back: (21) Wednesday Sept 27, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-20/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-21)

Tad says he received a letter from Aunt Tomi, who gave him Bob (Yatabe)'s address; Bob is apparently "finally in Italy." Parents' note on envelope back: (22) Thursday Sept 28, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-21/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-22)

Tad says he wrote Bob (Yatabe) a letter. Mentions that Saturday is payday (letter written on Tuesday); asks if he's "sounding like a ku-ichi". Parents' note on envelope back: (23) Friday Sept 29, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-22/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-23)

Tad says that tomorrow is inspection day, so they spent a lot of time cleaning. Tad clarifies that while he still may be promoted to temporary corporal, none of the men in camp can actually be promoted since they're a "replacement group." Says that the "kids like Freddy" back home would probably love to see his …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-23/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-24)

Tad says he saw "Till We Meet Again" at the theater. Parents' note on envelope back: (25) Monday Oct 2, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-24/

doc Letter from Tadashi Ishida to Mr. & Mrs. Y Ishida (ddr-densho-535-25)

Tad led a simulated battle with his squad and won. Says that his cabin "looks like a fort" since his bunkmates are cleaning their machine gun; the letter includes a drawing of the gun. Parents' note on envelope back: (26) Tuesday Oct 3, 1944

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-535-25/

Tadashi Ishida Collection ddr-densho-535

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