The Northwest Times

MISLS to Send Teams East

PRESIDIO of MONTEREY, Cal., June 3—Colonel R. Thorpe, Commandant of the Military Intelligence Service Language School today announced the recruiting teams made up of officers and enlisted men would be dispatched to four cities. The teams will leave the Presidio of Monterey this week, and proceed by car to New York, Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake City.

Their mission will be to obtain enlistments in the Regular Army for the purpose of attendance at the MISLS and the study of the Japanese language.

Col. Thorpe said that men with some familiarity with Japanese will be given the opportunity to enlist for the sole purpose of studying Japanese and subsequent service in Japan in capacities vital to the success of the occupation. The teams will interview prospective candidates and explain to them the program offered by the school and the nature of duties to be performed after graduation.

The four teams are made up of Nisei soldiers, most of whom have seen service in Japan. The men going to New York City are 2nd Lt. Reynold Muranaka and Technician 3rd grade Harry Kubo, a veteran of 26 months overseas in the Red Arrow Division as a translator and interpreter. Flying to Chicago will be 2nd Lt. Paul Sakai and Technical Sergeant Spady Koyama, a purple heart vet of the Pacific Theatre. They will be joined there by TSgt. George Hachiya, a native of Chicago, who is at present on furlough in that city.

Chief Warrant Officer Ernest Hirai who took part in the initial stage of the Japanese occupation as a member of the 1st Cavalry Division is scheduled to go to Denver. He will be accompanied by MSgt. Frank Kuramoto, an instructor at the school. The team which will work in Salt Lake City is made up of Capt. Richard Hamasaki, and MSgt. Yoshio Hotta, who served during the war as a linguist in the Aleutians.