THE PACIFIC FRONT -
THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (MIS)
To view an interactive map of the Pacific Front, click
here.
READING:
In
the years leading up to WWII, the U.S. anticipated the need for
linguists, personnel who could understand the Japanese language.
Thus the Military
Intelligence Service (MIS) was established. Due to anti-Asian
sentiment, the Army initially looked for Americans that spoke
the language who were not of Japanese heritage. The lack of qualified
candidates forced the Army to turn to the Japanese Americans in
the military.
The first serviceman it found was attorney John Aiso who was
serving as an enlisted mechanic in the Army. Aiso, along with
three other Nisei
(second generation Japanese Americans), developed lesson plans
for the MIS. Under his direction, the first Military
Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) at the Presidio,
San Francisco, was setup in November 1941.
Since there were very few people in the military who spoke Japanese,
the government decided to look for assistance from the Nisei and
Kibei
(Nisei educated in Japan) in Hawaii and in the U.S. concentration
camps. These students would become the first members of the MIS
and later become one of America’s best military secrets.
Although the MISLS program was nearly dropped due to the hysteria
of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, General Douglas MacArthur, commander
of troops in the Pacific, had complete confidence in the MIS and
its Nisei soldiers.
Two of the recruits for the MIS were young brothers, Ken and
Harry Akune, Kibei from California. The brothers were imprisoned
in the camp at Amache, Colorado. Others in the camp did not understand
why they would volunteer to fight for the U.S. in spite of their
unjust incarceration. Ken and Harry’s decision to enlist
was a result of their parents’ teachings to honor their
country. Although Ken and Harry Akune were trained together, once
their MIS class was completed in spring 1942, they were separated.
Unlike the men of the 100th/442nd, the Nisei of the MIS were
organized into small groups or as individuals who served with
a military unit. The 6,000 Nisei linguists of the MIS were attached
to units deployed at all strategic locations in the Pacific. They
served in every major battle and campaign in the Pacific. Their
job was to gather information by monitoring radio transmissions,
translating enemy documents and encouraging the surrender of enemy
soldiers.
Harry
Akune served as a translator/interpreter in British
New Guinea. He was attached to the 503rd Parachute Regimental
Combat Team. Although he had never been trained as a paratrooper,
he volunteered to jump into Corregidor with his unit when they
were given the mission to retake the island from the Japanese.
Most parachute operations involved combat and Harry fought along
side his comrades in firefights and in combat patrols. A few prisoners
were captured and Harry used his language skills to gain valuable
information. His information revealed the actual strength of the
enemy force (5,000 not the 850 previously estimated) and the status
of that force. Another piece of valuable intelligence was the
existence of 100 enemy motor boats loaded with explosives hidden
in caves that were to be used to destroy Allied shipping. Harry’s
revelations saved American lives.
Robert “Rusty” Kimura was a MIS linguist who volunteered
from camp at Topaz, Utah. Rusty was assigned to the Australian
Army. The Australians insisted that he wear an Australian uniform
to keep from being confused with the Japanese army. Rusty insisted
on keeping his American uniform because he knew he had earned
the right to wear it. Rusty was of great value to the Australians
on a number of occasions. In one instance he looked through captured
documents and found a sheet of paper showing the place, date and
time of Japan’s next attack. The attack was scheduled for
the next morning at 10 a.m. With this key information, the Australians
were prepared and easily defeated the attack the next morning.
His efforts saved many lives.
Roy Matsumoto, another MIS linguist, served with Merrill’s
Marauders, a unit under the direction of General Frank Merrill,
that fought behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia. Their mission
was to reopen the Burma Road, the Allied supply route from India
to China. Their objective was to disrupt Japanese operations in
that area. MIS linguists volunteered for what was only described
as a “dangerous and hazardous mission.” It was estimated
that the casualty rate for this outfit would be 85 percent.
In one specific incident, Roy’s unit found itself surrounded
by Japanese troops. After 13 days, the 600 men of his unit had
little food or water. The situation was desperate. He decided
to take action. Roy crawled beyond the perimeter and overheard
the Japanese plan for a suicide attack the following morning at
dawn. With this information, the Americans withdrew to a new area,
booby-trapping their old foxholes before they left. The first
wave of Japanese troops attacked and was cut down. Roy then did
the unexpected. He stood up and yelled in Japanese “susume!”
(attack!), and a wave of enemy troops attacked again and were
cut down. In the end, the U.S. suffered no casualties, and 54
Japanese soldiers lay dead.
Not all MIS linguists worked on the battlefront as illustrated
in the battle for the island of Okinawa.
The Battle of Okinawa was the last major campaign of the Pacific
and involved the largest number of ships and troops of any battle
in the Pacific. The casualties suffered to capture Okinawa were
a staggering 50,000 dead and wounded. MIS linguists discovered
and translated a map that detailed all of the enemy emplacements
on the island. This information saved other American lives. Tom
Ige, Takejiro
Higa, and eight other Nisei soldiers of Okinawan descent joined
the other MIS linguists in Okinawa. They helped to save the lives
of other civilians and helped to build support among the local
population. They also identified surviving Japanese soldiers who
were trying to blend into the Okinawan population by speaking
in the distinct Okinawan dialect.
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 resulted
in the loss of lives and devastation on a scale unknown before.
The bombing of these cities marked the first time atomic weapons
would be used. Japan surrendered days later and the war in the
Pacific was over. Some MIS linguists witnessed the devastation.
They later worked as translators in the war crime trials and assisted
in the reconstruction of Japan. In addition, they played a crucial
role in bridging the gap between Japan and the U.S., two nations
with such different cultures. Today, Japan and the United States
are strategic and economic partners. On June 30, 2000, the men
of the Military Intelligence Service received long overdue recognition
when their unit was awarded a Presidential
Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against
an armed enemy while displaying gallantry, determination and espirit
de corps.
ACTIVITIES
Framework Standard Context
California Standards
Grade 11
11.7 Students analyze the American participation in World War
II.
