Military Intelligence Service (United States)
Encyclopedia
The Military Intelligence Service was a World War II
U.S. military unit consisting of two branches, the Japanese American Unit described here and the German-Austrian Unit based at Camp Ritchie, described partly in Ritchie Boys
. The unit described here was primarily composed of Japanese-American Nisei
, who were trained as linguists. Graduates of the MIS language school (MISLS) were attached to other military units to provide translation
and interrogation
services. Near the end of the war with Japan, the curriculum shifted to focus more on Japanese civil affairs
, in order to assist with occupation and rebuilding after the war.
The MISLS (initially known as the Fourth Army Intelligence School), and began operation in November 1941, about a month before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
. The school initially operated at Crissy Field
in San Francisco
, but moved to Savage, Minnesota
in 1942. There were more than 6000 graduates of MISLS.
The first MISLS students came from the army, but later students were also recruited from Japanese internment camp
s. MIS members attached to the joint Australian/American Allied Translator and Interpreter Section
were instrumental in deciphering and translating the Z plan
, an important captured document that described Japanese plans for a counterattack in the central pacific.
In March 1942, the Military Intelligence Division
was reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Originally comprising just 26 people, 16 of them officers, it was quickly expanded to include 342 officers and 1,000 enlisted men and civilians. It was tasked with collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence. Initially it included:
In May 1942, Alfred McCormack, established the Special Branch of MIS which specialised in COMINT.
On October 5, 2010, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the 6,000 Japanese Americans who served in the Military Intelligence Service during the war, as well as the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
U.S. military unit consisting of two branches, the Japanese American Unit described here and the German-Austrian Unit based at Camp Ritchie, described partly in Ritchie Boys
Ritchie Boys
The Ritchie Boys was a US special military intelligence unit in World War II comprising mainly German-speaking immigrants to the USA. They were predominately Jews, most of whom had fled Nazi persecution...
. The unit described here was primarily composed of Japanese-American 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...
, who were trained as linguists. Graduates of the MIS language school (MISLS) were attached to other military units to provide translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
and interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
services. Near the end of the war with Japan, the curriculum shifted to focus more on Japanese civil affairs
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs is a term used by both the United Nations and by military institutions , but for different purposes in each case.-United Nations Civil Affairs:...
, in order to assist with occupation and rebuilding after the war.
The MISLS (initially known as the Fourth Army Intelligence School), and began operation in November 1941, about a month before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. The school initially operated at Crissy Field
Crissy Field
Crissy Field is a former airfield, now a part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, California, United States. Historically a part of the Presidio of San Francisco, Crissy Field was closed as an airfield and eventually the National Park Service took control over it...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, but moved to Savage, Minnesota
Savage, Minnesota
Savage is a suburban city south-southwest of downtown Minneapolis in Scott County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city is situated on the south bank of the Minnesota River in a region commonly referred to as South of the River, comprising the southern portion of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the...
in 1942. There were more than 6000 graduates of MISLS.
The first MISLS students came from the army, but later students were also recruited from Japanese internment camp
Japanese internment camp
Japanese internment camp is a term generally used to refer to one or both of the following:*Japanese American internment, the internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II...
s. MIS members attached to the joint Australian/American Allied Translator and Interpreter Section
Allied Translator and Interpreter Section
The Allied Translator and Interpreter Section , also known as the Allied Translator and Interpreter Service or Allied Translator and Intelligence Service, was a joint Australian/American World War II intelligence agency which served as a centralized allied intelligence unit for the translation of...
were instrumental in deciphering and translating the Z plan
Z Plan (Japan)
The Z Plan is a set of captured World War II documents describing Japanese military plans to counterattack the Americans in the central Pacific ocean for one last decisive battle...
, an important captured document that described Japanese plans for a counterattack in the central pacific.
In March 1942, the Military Intelligence Division
Military Intelligence Division
The Military Intelligence Division was a military intelligence branch of the United States Army, established in 1885. It was the first standing intelligence agency of the Army; the Union Army had had a Bureau of Military Information, but that had reported to the Commanding General for less than a...
was reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Originally comprising just 26 people, 16 of them officers, it was quickly expanded to include 342 officers and 1,000 enlisted men and civilians. It was tasked with collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence. Initially it included:
- an Administrative Group
- an Intelligence Group
- a Counterintelligence Group
- an Operations Group
In May 1942, Alfred McCormack, established the Special Branch of MIS which specialised in COMINT.
Recognition
In April 2000, more than 50 years after World War II, the Military Intelligence Service became the recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor given to a U.S. military unit.On October 5, 2010, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the 6,000 Japanese Americans who served in the Military Intelligence Service during the war, as well as the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion.