PERSONAL FOCUS:
HARRY M. AKUNE - Military Intelligence Service
The
Japanese Americans who served in the Military Intelligence Service
(MIS) were long denied recognition. In fact, the existence and
contributions of the MIS remained a classified secret for many
years. Harry M. Akune was one of the members of the MIS who received
special recognition for his wartime work by being inducted into
the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1996. His belated recognition
was given due to the efforts of other veterans of the Military
Intelligence Service.
Harry was born in Turlock, California on May 20, 1920. In 1933
his mother died and his father made a decision to take his children,
all nine of them, to live in Japan. A few years later Harry and
his brother Ken decided to return to the United States. They wanted
to find jobs and help the rest of the family.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066
was issued, life for the Akune brothers changed dramatically.
Harry and Ken found themselves in Amache, Colorado, one of the
10 camps into which West Coast Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
Harry was torn. He was frustrated with the government's treatment
of Japanese Americans while feeling a deep connection to the land
of his birth, the United States.
He decided to volunteer for the military. His brother Ken also
decided to volunteer. Others in the camp received their decision
with mixed feelings. Many questioned the decision of the Akune
brothers since their family still lived in Japan. Harry explained
his reason, "For the moment I felt action by me was more
important than words. If we just sit back, let the war go by without
us doing anything, we're going to come out and be second- or third-class
citizens. Just the fact that we didn't do anything is a sign that
we didn't care."
Both Akune brothers were sent to the Military Intelligence Service
Language School for training. After graduation Harry was first
assigned as a translator/interpreter to the US 33rd Infantry Division
in British Guinea. The U.S. 6th Army in Hollandia, British Guinea
was his second assignment.
In November 1944, Specialist Akune was attached to the 503rd
Parachute Regimental Combat Team. He was the only Japanese American
serving with the unit. The retaking of the fortress of Corregador,
Philippines was the task given to the 503rd, designated the Rock
Force. Corregidor had both strategic and symbolic importance to
the Americans. Strategically Corregidor controlled the seaport
of Manila, key to the Philippines, another stepping stone on the
way to Japan. Symbolically Corregidor's capture would erase the
greatest defeat in American military history.
Colonel George M. Jones, commanding the 503rd, personally asked
Specialist Akune if he would volunteer for an airborne assault
of Corregidor. Harry had one major problem; he had never received
any formal parachute training. Despite this, Harry agreed to go.
On February 16, 1945, Specialist Akune made the jump. There were
only two possible paratroop landing areas on the island. The areas
were very small. In his own words he described the jump:
"This island of Corregidor has a top site, what they call
and it's a little over one mile in diameter. And we had two small
areas to land in. So my landing area was more, it was closer to
the cliff than to this, and this island was about 700 feet up
in the air. . . And the rest of it is ocean. . . By that time
I look down there and a bomb shattered tree, like this. Oh no,
I'm going to get impaled. . . Oh, I can just feel the pain of
getting impaled."
Harry excitedly pulled on his parachute and miraculously was
able to avoid the tree. He walked away from the jump unhurt. Many
of the experienced parachutists were not as lucky.
Upon landing, Specialist Akune went to work. He interrogated the
few prisoners taken and translated captured documents that provided
valuable information. He discovered the enemy strength had been
miscalculated. Rather then 850, the awaiting enemy forces numbered
5,000. This allowed the 503rd the opportunity to prepare the most
effective offensive.
Due to the small number of men involved in the parachute drop,
Specialist Akune also fought with his unit, participating as an
infantryman. Whether it was fighting side by side with the men
of the 503rd or serving as interpreter/translator, Specialist
Akune performed with distinction.
In seeking formal recognition for Harry, John A. (Jack) Herzig,
Lieutenant Colonel of the 503rd, wrote a letter to the U.S. Army
Intelligence Center. In a portion of the letter he wrote:
In closing the letter, Jack Herzig noted, "We see him as
an example of whom future and present Military Intelligence Corps
personnel should be proud. His being so honored by your institution
[U.S. Army Intelligence Center] would be formal recognition of
Mr. Akune's courageous actions as well as a demonstration of the
value of on-the-ground human intelligence."
Even after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Harry continued
to serve. He became a member of the Allied Prisoner of War Recovery
Team providing assistance to American POWs. In September 1945,
Harry was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. In Japan
he helped the Japanese recovery effort by doing interpretation
and translation for the Military Government's Price and Ration
Controls Division.
His
brother Ken was also in Japan. While there they had an opportunity
to visit their father and brothers and sisters. Harry and Ken
knew that their brothers had served in the Japanese Navy (one
even served in the Kamikaze Corp). They were worried how they
would be received in the uniform of the "enemy." The
brothers overcame their anxiety and did see their father and some
of their siblings. Over the years, they have remained in touch
with family members in Japan.
Harry was discharged from the Army in January 1946 and returned
to the United States to resume his civilian life. In the years
that followed, he went to college, married and had children. In
thinking back to his years in the MIS he once wrote, "I treasure
my experience [in the MIS] as a highlight of my life and it made
me a better person for it." In recent years the many contributions
of the Military Intelligence Service have become known, and the
patriotism and courage of men line Harry Akune have finally been
acknowledged.
ACTIVITIES
Framework Standards Context
California Standards
Grade 11
11.7 Students analyze the American participation in World War
II
