1945

Twenty-five Military Intelligence Service Nisei specially trained in low-level radio intercept join the 6th Radio Squadron Mobile in Assam, India.

Several MIS Nisei soldiers land with the US Marines on Iwo Jima, one of the last battles in the Pacific. A total of about 50 MIS Nisei join the fighting there. Nisei are also present in the Tinian Island operation.

The 522nd Field Artillery Battalion becomes a roving battalion, first sent to assist the 63rd Division’s assault on the Siegfried Line between Eastern France and Germany.

The 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, less the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, leaves France for Italy to join the all African American 92nd Infantry Division.

The 522nd is assigned to the 44th and 45th Divisions in their drive for Mannheim, Germany.

The battle of Okinawa begins. MIS Nisei had accompanied the 77th Infantry Division when they landed in the Kerama Islands. They then are with the Tenth Army when they land on Okinawa. They assist with cave flushing, the interrogation of prisoners, and the translation of Japanese documents, which reveals defense plans, troop positions, and maps of artillery positions.

 100th/442nd RCT makes a surprise attack on Nazi mountainside positions in Italy, breaking through the Nazi Gothic Line in one day.

100th/442nd RCT begins to drive the enemy up the Italian coast to Genoa and Turin.

The 522nd Field Artillery Battalion helps to liberate Jewish prisoners of a Dachau sub-camp and a death march outside of Waarkirchen, Germany.

German Army surrenders in Italy.

The war in Europe is over.

The first Women’s Army Corps class at the Military Intelligence Service Language School begins with 28 women students.1

The MARS Task Force disbands.

The Americans drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

The US drops its second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, essentially bringing the war against Japan to an end. As Japanese forces surrender, Office of Special Services Detachment 202 sends teams with Nisei translators to conduct rescue missions for Allied POWs in China, Korea, Hainan Island and Formosa (now known as Taiwan).

MISers begin their participation in the surrender and seven-year occupation of Japan. More than 5,000 MIS Nisei are involved in processing war crimes, repatriation of Japanese soldiers and civilians, civil censorship, land reform, government reorganization and the rewriting of Japan’s constitution

Japan formally surrenders to the US and the Allies. World War II ends.

Throughout the Pacific region, Japanese troops surrender to Allied forces through the month of September.

The Western Defense Command proclaims that all military restrictions and exclusion orders against those of Japanese descent are rescinded.²

Nisei language teams accompany American units landing at Inchon for occupation duty in southern Korea.³

The 1st Cavalry Division, accompanied by MIS Nisei, becomes the first American unit to enter Tokyo after the surrender.

 The trial of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the first major war crime trial of the Pacific war, begins in Manila. Nisei are assigned as interpreters under the Navy and also on the defense and prosecution teams.

 Colonel Kai E. Rasmussen holds a press conference at Fort Snelling about the MISLS and its graduates, revealing many of the details about the MIS Nisei that were never before shared with the American public.