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“As for the value of the Nisei, I couldn't have gotten along without them”

- Major General Frank D. Merrill



Wounded Japanese Soldier
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“Before the first skirmish with the enemy (in Burma) the Texans wondered what we Nisei were doing in their outfit. After the first initial contact, the entire brass of the regiment, crowded into our makeshirt shelter at night to check out diaries and documents brought in by some of the troopers.”

- From the diary of Arthur Morimitsu



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South East Asia/China-Burma-India Command Merrill's Marauders & Mars Task Force China-Burma-India Theatre


Southeast Asia/China-Burma-India (CBI)

Lord Louis Mountbatten of Great Britain led the Southeast Asia Command, though most of the soldiers were from U.S. troops. Nisei linguists were attached and fought closely with British, Australian, and New Zealand troops, as well as units from India, China, and Burma.

China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre:

In New Delhi, India, the Southeast Asia Translation and Interrogation Center (SEATIC) provided translation and interrogation services. Nisei worked at the Office of War Information (OWI) as part of a psychological warfare team.

In Calcutta, India, Nisei linguists worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

In China, MIS Nisei worked to gather information about the Japanese while Allied Forces collaborated with Chinese Nationalist Leader Chiang Kai-shek.


Merrill's Marauders:

Named after commander General Frank Merrill, the Marauders cleared North Burma of Japanese troops and captured the town of Myitkyina and its airstrip. Fourteen of the Marauders were Nisei MIS linguists. Over seven months, they fought their way through 700 miles of Burmese jungle.

The Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Bronze Star were awarded to each member of the Nisei Unit.

Mars Task Force: The Mars Task Force relieved the Marauders and continued to disrupt Japanese supply routes along the Burmese Road. The 24 Nisei linguists carefully snuck up on Japanese soldiers and eavesdropped on their conversations. They gathered intelligence on ammunition dumps and enemy supplies, ammunition dumps, and movements.
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