John F. Aiso
Encyclopedia
John Fujio Aiso was an American
Nisei
military
leader, lawyer
, and judge
.
in 1934. Between 1935 and 1952 Aiso worked in private practice in Los Angeles
and New York
. Aiso was the highest-ranking Japanese American
in the United States Army
during Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
. Returning to the United States after working for a British company in Japanese-occupied Manchuria, he was conscripted into the Army and within months he was released from active duty to serve as chief instructor for the hastily-formed secret Japanese language school. Under his inspiring leadership as director of academic training, MISLS (Military Intelligence Service Language School) rapidly expanded. He recruited instructors and trained them, developed course materials, and set the highest academic standards. The more than 6,000 graduates contributed immeasurably to the American victory over Imperial Japan and to wining the peace that followed. In 1946, he was given a direct commission as Major and awarded the Legion of Merit in 1947. In 1952, he served as a Commissioner for one year. He was then appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1953 and later elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court. He became the first Japanese-American to enter the California State Judiciary. Aiso became an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal
, Second Appellate District on November 4, 1968.
awarded him the Legion of Merit
in 1965 for his service during World War II. In 1984, the Emperor of Japan awarded him the 3rd Class Order of the Rising Sun for his contributions to understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan. He was inducted into the Military Intelligence Corp Hall of Fame
in 1991. The Aiso Library at the Defense Language Institute
(DLI) Foreign Language Center is named in his honor for his contributions as the chief instructor of what became the Military Intelligence Service Language School, the predecessor of DLI. In the Little Tokyo
community of Los Angeles
, a one block segment of San Pedro St. between Temple Blvd. and 1st Street has been renamed Judge John F. Aiso Street in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Nisei
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
leader, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
Education and career
Aiso graduated from Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1934. Between 1935 and 1952 Aiso worked in private practice in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Aiso was the highest-ranking Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. Returning to the United States after working for a British company in Japanese-occupied Manchuria, he was conscripted into the Army and within months he was released from active duty to serve as chief instructor for the hastily-formed secret Japanese language school. Under his inspiring leadership as director of academic training, MISLS (Military Intelligence Service Language School) rapidly expanded. He recruited instructors and trained them, developed course materials, and set the highest academic standards. The more than 6,000 graduates contributed immeasurably to the American victory over Imperial Japan and to wining the peace that followed. In 1946, he was given a direct commission as Major and awarded the Legion of Merit in 1947. In 1952, he served as a Commissioner for one year. He was then appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1953 and later elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court. He became the first Japanese-American to enter the California State Judiciary. Aiso became an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal
California Court of Appeal
The California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided into six appellate districts...
, Second Appellate District on November 4, 1968.
Awards and accolades
President Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
awarded him the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
in 1965 for his service during World War II. In 1984, the Emperor of Japan awarded him the 3rd Class Order of the Rising Sun for his contributions to understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan. He was inducted into the Military Intelligence Corp Hall of Fame
Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
The Military Intelligence Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame established by the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army in 1988 to honor soldiers and civilians who have made exceptional contributions to Military Intelligence...
in 1991. The Aiso Library at the Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
(DLI) Foreign Language Center is named in his honor for his contributions as the chief instructor of what became the Military Intelligence Service Language School, the predecessor of DLI. In the Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo may refer to:* Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California* Little Tokyo, Vancouver* Little Tokyo, U.S.A., a 1942 American film* Another term for a Japantown* Shigeri Akabane , Japanese professional wrestler...
community of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, a one block segment of San Pedro St. between Temple Blvd. and 1st Street has been renamed Judge John F. Aiso Street in his honor.