1. Name of interviewer: Paul Y. Tani

2. Name of interviewee: Dr. Stanley L. Falk; DOB March 11, 1927

3. Recording format: Video – VHS

4. Date of recording: July 29, 2003

5. Location of recording: Alexandria, Virginia

6. Corresponding materials: None

7. Summary of Topics discussed in the interview. Time in minutes.seconds.

00.00 Introduction. JAVA = Japanese American Veterans Association. JAVA is a partner of the LOC’s Veterans History Project. Most JAVA members are Americans of Japanese Ancestry. Some members are not. Subject of today’s interview is not of Japanese ancestry. Active duty: 4/23/45 to 7/28/48. Graduate of Army’s Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Served in Tokyo during the Occupation of Japan in the Occupation’s Historical Division.

02.33 Background. Wife and two daughters. Early education in New York City. Accelerated. Graduated high school at age 15. Bard College from Fall 1942. Graduated at age 18. Journalism. Three Nisei (Japanese Americans) at Bard.

06.39 Became interested in Japanese language. Son of parent’s friend attended MIS Language School. Why not attend? As an alternative to being a rifleman. Was tutored in Japanese. Accepted by the MISLS even before he was in the Army.

09.45 Desire to be a newspaperman, his student activities and his proficiency in the Japanese language led to his assignment in Tokyo in the Occupation’s History Office. Led him into the History Business.

10.30 Army career began 4/23/45. Was at MISLS on 5/1/45. Graduated from Bard College in absentia. Language School for Caucasians at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) was to last a year, followed by a half year at Fort Snelling, Minn. VJ Day in summer of 1945, so Ann Arbor course was cut off December 1945. Continued classes at Fort Snelling.

11.38 Decision had to be made by Caucasian students. Could have been discharged. Could have received commission as Second Lieutenant but must commit to 3+ total years of service, including service in Japan. Because he already had a college degree, and was interested in Japan, he accepted the commission on 4/23/46.

13.00 Sailed from Seattle to Tokyo in June 1946; billeted in the NYK Building. Offices of Army’s ATIS (Allied Translator and Interpreter Service) located there as well.

14.00 Good relationships with Japanese officials as well as people in ordinary life. Spoke with former military people about Japan’s campaigns and activities to compile their history. No stress placed on these Japanese veterans; no threat of war crimes investigation.

15.55 Enjoyed Tokyo and Japan. Traveled; met people; learned about their culture. Because of language proficiency, he could go where he wanted. Mostly in the vicinity of Tokyo; also Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe. Had good, active relations with Nisei GIs also in service; men and women. Visited Japanese homes. Collected artwork.

18.58 Had a different assignment toward the end of his tour of duty in Japan. Involved in processing intelligence gathered from Japanese who were returning from Russia where they were prisoners of war.

20.10 Discussed further his assignment at the History Office. Contributed material to the "MacArthur History". The results have been published in 1966. Covers both the war from the American (MacArthur) side, and the war from the Japanese side.

21.27 (He left active military service on July 28, 1948; see Introduction.) Hired by the Army Historical Division in Washington DC where he began his career as a historian in the government. Attended Georgetown University with help from the GI Bill and earned both Master’s and PhD in American History, with concentration on WW II and especially the Pacific.

22.50 Also became the Chief Historian of the Air Force. Also taught at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. On nights and weekends, he published volumes on the War in the Pacific. His background at the Occupation’s History Office was the source of much of what he published.

24.20 Military experience had a positive influence on his life. Gave him a profession. Gave him a career. Got graduate degrees. Got a GI Loan for first house. Stayed in the Reserves; kept commission as a Reserve Officer, retired as a Colonel.

25.24 When he was on active duty, he paid for GI Insurance policy which was later converted into a very good policy. An allotment was sent home and parents bought war bonds, which were used to make down payment for his first house.

26.20 Why, Washington, DC? When he returned from Japan, he gave his background to the Army’s History Division, they invited him down for an interview, and he was offered a job. He came to Washington in January 1949 and has been here ever since.

He got involved with JAVA. Has a small military retirement. Has access to the Commissary and the Post Exchange.

27.55 No regrets for being involved in the military. Was educational, was beneficial, was not at all unpleasant. Obviously, for many people, military service was not pleasant and for many it was tragic. He was very fortunate.

28.30 Discussed were interactions with Nisei starting with WW II. Teachers at both Ann Arbor and at Fort Snelling were Nisei, and very good. While at Snelling, about twenty Caucasians were housed with the Nisei. The Nisei did not exhibit any resentment (against the Caucasians who would receive commissions while the Nisei would not, unfairly). A humorous incident was in formations and parades. At first, Caucasians marched at the front of the company’s formation, and their strides were too long for the shorter Nisei in the back. So, the Caucasians were placed in the rear of the formation. KP was a delight, compared to KP at basic training. Food was good. Discussed some Nisei comrades.

33.35 5250^th Technical Intelligence Detachment. His first assignment in Tokyo. The detachment administered a program, which collected monographs from Japanese on the war, the monographs were translated in ATIS, but sometimes the translations needed a lot of editing. His newspaper experience plus language proficiency helped him edit the translations.

34.45 Was a charter member of JAVA, Japanese American Veterans Association. JAVA began as an MIS Veterans group, but expanded to include JAs from the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team. In 1993, JAVA organized a big MIS reunion with participation from veterans across the country. As a result of a panel of those who talked about their experiences, Falk and Warren Tsuneishi edited a book about these reminiscences, which was published as "MIS in the War Against Japan". Falk had been on JAVA’s Executive Committee for about ten years.

37.53 The Washington Chapter of JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) conducts annual memorial services at the Arlington National Cemetery commemorating Nisei who are buried there. Falk was asked to address the gathering one year.

38.50 Discussed Dr. James McNaughton, Army Historian at USARPAC in Hawaii. He was chosen to write a volume about the Nisei in the MIS for the huge (90+ volume) Army History of WW II. This was in addition to his myriad of other assignments. It has been a long laborious task, and he has completed a manuscript, which has been handed in to the Center of Military History. There will be a review panel on this at the end of August 2003; Falk, Phil Ishio and Warren Tsuneishi will be on the panel. There is still much to do. JA veterans of the MIS are getting older, and some of them are no longer with us.

42.05 The State of Arkansas is supporting a Reunion of residents from the Jerome and Rohwer Relocation Camps. Falk asked JAVA members if any had come from either camp; so far, no response.

44.18 Conclusion. Was it worth being in the military? He reiterated the statements he made earlier. Everything throughout the three years and three months he spent on Active Duty was really an enhancing experience.

46.10 End