Customer Reviews

Nisei Linguists: Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service During World War II

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This was great reading for me because it discussed how my brother received his Silver Stars. I knew about one of them, but didn't realize he actually received two. I also found it interesting how some of the men that served under him won their Distinguished Service Metal, Silver Stars, and Bronze Stars. The book also described the various campaigns and the dates. I never really understood the campaigns and the various breakdown of where the MIS served. I also bought books for my sisters, son, and daughter so they could read about his heroism. Always have been very proud of him!

Nisei Linguists by James C. McNaughton is a story that is long overdue in telling. While many books have been written about the two Japanese American combat regimental teams who fought so well in Europe, their Pacific counterparts have only received very small portion of coverage by comparison. This book moves to correct that and it does an excellent job in portraying how the Nisei linguists who not only served the United States but all other allied nations who fought against Imperial Japan.

The book traced the beginning of the Nisei based Military Intelligence Service and its language schools it founded. Of course along the way, they had to fight against many racial prejudices that limited their promotions, limited their duty assignments and often disregarded initially due to their appearances. It is amazing to note that so contrary to the classical stereotype, many Japanese Americans had no working knowledge of the Japanese language, much as many German Americans for example, had no working knowledge of German language. But those who did laid the foundation that will go a long way in winning the war in the Pacific.

It is no doubt by what is written in this book that these Nisei linguists aided in helping the war against Japan. Without them, many white combat troops who came home at the end of the war from the Pacific, may not have made it back in one piece. Author is pretty sure that these Nisei linguists helped gain intelligence information that saved the lives of many white combat troops, helped shorten the war and made the occupation of Japan more easier for the Americans. In reflection, they also saved lives of many Japanese soldiers and civilians who may otherwise, killed themselves either in despair or avoiding capture. That theses Nisei linguists performed their duties under racial tension of war time period against Japanese Americans make them more unique in retrospect.

This book should interest anyone who have an interest in the Pacific War and the Japanese American experience of that war. There is no doubt that these Nisei did played a major factor in winning the Pacific War although their story remains mostly untold until now.

"Nisei Linguists" is well documented and thorough in bringing to the public's eye the patriotism exhibited by Nisei during and immediately after WWII. There were some startling facts in it, such as several Nisei were as part of the US Army MIS and serving as linguists were amongst the Marines at Iwo Jima. This book also provided much more information than my dad (91) recalls as he was also part of the MIS but only during the Occupation of Japan.

Highly recommended.

Excellent perspective on World War II related military efforts that seem now to be just coming to light - the work of the linguists in the Aleutians, Burma, Occupied Japan - some amazing history.