This is a new book that was published about 2 years ago. It tells the story of Masao Abe, a Japanese American who was drafted and entered the US Army several months prior to Pearl Harbor. He was born in the US, but his parents brought him to Japan when he was 7 years old. He spoke no Japanese, but learned it quickly in Japan. In school in Japan, they put him into a program to train him for a career in the Japanese military. His parents did not like the direction that Japan was taking. Japan had already invaded China when Masao's parents sent him to live with relatives in California. He was drafted and entered the US Army several months before Pearl Harbor. I was familiar with the Japanese Americans who fought in Europe, but didn't know about the Japanese American's who fought in the Pacific. Masao served in several areas in the Pacific, always at the front lines. He interrogated prisoners, encouraged Japanese troops to surrender, and was involved in combat operations as well. It recounts one harrowing episode where he was surprised by hidden Japanese soldier and dispatched him with his .45. The book tells the good and the bad about how he was treated by his fellow soldiers. A few days after Pearl Harbor, the Commanding General of the base where he was stationed in California called everyone together and asked the Japanese American soldiers to come forward. He then told everyone that the Japanese Americans will be a vital part of the war effort and there will be hell to pay if anyone gives any of them any shit. There was another incident recounted where a lieutenant on Peleliu, Pelau after a particular fierce fire fight pointed a gun at Masao and said "You're a spy. I'm going to kill you." A white soldier stood in front of Masao and said that if your going to shoot Masao, "you'll have to shoot me first." Great story. Highly recommended.

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I was familiar with the Japanese Americans who fought in Europe, but didn't know about the Japanese American's who fought in the Pacific.

Unlike the dedicated Japanese-American combat units like the 442nd and 522nd in the Mediterranean and European theaters, they were not allowed to serve in primary combat roles in the PTO. But there were thousands of Japanese-American servicemen of the Military Intelligence Service attached to various units in the Pacific and China/Burma/India theaters to serve as translators and interrogators, and many of them did participate in the fighting.

It is a myth that MIS/LS personnel did not serve in combat. True they were not part of a front line combat unit but many were part of contested landings attached to units assaulting beaches. The ability to translate maps and orders found during the initial waves was of great value if done on site and not back in say Australia where many of the translator were still stationed doing important work translating radio intercepts and other intelligence.

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Originally posted by detroit192:
It is a myth that MIS/LS personnel did not serve in combat. .

Correct. The book made it very clear that Masao served on the front lines and provided real time intelligence to front line troops. Masao was involved in numerous fire fights with the enemy.