George I. Nakamura
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George Itsuo Nakamura was a Nisei and Japanese-American, a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II, and recipient of the Bronze Star. Nakamura was one of the first Americans to arrive in Yan'an China as part of the United States Army Observation Group, commonly known as the Dixie Mission.
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[edit] Life
George Itsuo Nakamura was born in Arroyo Grande, California, where his family lived until their forcible removal to a Japanese-American internment camp in the Gila River War Relocation Center at Gila River, Arizona. In 1942, Nakamura enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to join the United States Military Intelligence Service, where he trained at the Language School at Camp Savage in Minnesota.[1]
[edit] War in Asia
After completing his training, Nakamura was sent to the China Burma India Theater, specifically India, where he put his Japanese language skills to use. In 1944, he was selected to join the Dixie Mission to Yan'an. The mission team members had been divided an half, with the first group arriving on July 22nd. Nakamura and the second half arrived approximately two weeks later on August 7.[2] In Yan'an, Nakamura worked extensively with Japanese Communists, including Nosaka Sanzo, as well as interrogating Japanese prisoners of war. Nakamura completed his work at Dixie in 1945 and received a Bronze Star and promotion from Sergeant to lieutenant as a result. He was then transferred to work in Occupied Japan.
[edit] Post war life
Nakamura remained in the United States Army until 1948, when he resigned his commission, and went to Columbia University to study for a Master of Science degree in International Relations.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Article by Japanese-American Veteran Association on Nisei
- ^ Carolle J. Carter, Mission to Yenan: American Liaison with the Chinese Communists, 1944 - 1947(Lexington, KY: U of Kentucky Press, 1997), 31.
