The Military Intelligence Service Association of Northern California (MIS NorCal) is a nonprofit veterans organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of the history and activities of the MIS during World War II and in postwar military/civilian operations.

MIS NorCal conducts educational programs, sponsors and participates in patriotic events, and provides recreational activities for its members and their families and friends.

Association members meet annually to discuss new projects and issues, vote, and engage in social activities. Officers are elected every two years.

MIS NorCal Officers

Acting Leadership Chairman Harry Fukuhara, Sukeo "Skeets" Oji, Fred Kitajima and Walter Tanaka

Executive Vice President Thomas Fujimoto

Vice President, Social Affairs Harry Fukuhara

Secretary Fred Kitajima

Treasurer Sukeo "Skeets" Oji

Membership Chair Walter Tanaka

Editor/Public Relations Barry Saiki

Membership: 360

Contact Information

History

Following an MIS reunion in 1970, the association was established to honor the memory of this special military intelligence unit by educating the public about MIS experiences as well as functioning as a support group for MIS veterans and their families. Over the years, the organization has grown to more than 350 active members, with the majority of its membership residing in Northern California.

Affiliations

The association has worked with local and national organizations as well as individuals to fulfill its goals and objectives. Past and current affiliations include Lyn Crost, Go For Broke Foundation, Joseph Harrington, Japanese American Veterans’ Association, National Japanese American Historical Society, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education, and gayle yamada of Bridge Media Incorporated.

MIS NorCal Projects

About This Web Site

As part of its educational mission, MIS NorCal began the web project to make available the biographies and records of the military intelligence specialists that are part of the archives at the National Japanese American Historical Society. Funded by a grant from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) and private donations from members and friends, the web project not only shares MIS veterans’ personal stories, but also serves as a portal to comprehensive information about the unit and a conduit for further research about the wartime linguists.

Project leadership includes MIS NorCal members:

Sukeo “Skeets” Oji (Project Director), Harry Fukuhara, Fred Kitajima, and Walter Tanaka.

The project development team consists of:

Gary Otake, Mindee Kashiwagi, Scott Hoshida, Paras Dagli, Mami Yamamoto, Suz Takeda, and Amy Cheng.

Other Recent Projects

Past projects of MIS NorCal include the following:

"The Pacific War and Peace, Americans of Japanese Ancestry in Military Intelligence Service", 1941-1952, co-written with the National Japanese American Historical Society

MIS Fellowship Program, including the video, "Fifty Years of Silence: The Untold Story of Japanese American Soldiers in the Pacific Theater, 1941-52", produced by Sheryl Narahara

"Prejudice and Patriotism: The Story of Japanese American Military Intelligence Service" (video)

"Uncommon Courage: Patriotism and Civil Liberties" (video)

For more information and to order these publications or videos, visit the NJAHS web site.

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