Posted at 10:37 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Book tells of Japanese-American translators in WWII
Associated Press
U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is co-hosting an event today in Washington, D.C., to mark the publication of "Nisei Linguists: Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service During WWII".Akaka said the book, written by James C. McNaughton and published by the military, looks at Japanese-Americans who served as military interpreters and translators during World War II.
The Army prepared the 514-page book in response to a request from Akaka and U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, a Japanese-American veteran of the war.
The linguists were mostly second-generation Americans of Japanese ancestry who interpreted and translated for the military. Many were from Hawaii.
They played critical roles translating enemy documents, interrogating Japanese prisoners of war, intercepting communications, and persuading Japanese militia to surrender.
Akaka told the Senate in a floor speech Monday that the linguists helped bring the Pacific war to a quicker end and helped turn bitter foes into strong allies after the war.
"I am delighted this project is finally done," Akaka said in a statement. "For decades after their service, a complete documentation of their exemplary deeds was sorely lacking."
