Nisei enlisted in Hamilton, training together in Brantford, ON, June 1945. Courtesy of Oue family.
Front row: Jack Oki, Roy Ito, Mas Kawanami, Rusty Oki, Shig Oue
Back row: Tad Ode, Yosh Hyodo, Bob Oikawa, Mas Hyodo, Ron Oki.
The nisei volunteers were inducted into the Canadian Intelligence Corps and most were sent to Brantford, Ontario for basic training for four months. They were called the No. 17 Platoon of B Company. Lt.-Col R. Y. Corey, the Commanding Officer, said, “I think they were the most intelligent lot of men and the best platoon we ever had at Brantford.” All came from British Columbia and most had been evacuated from the West Coast early in the war. Because they were in Ontario, not BC, they voted in the federal election (Ito, 1984, p. 204). At Brantford, the Nisei Platoon set records in the number of banners won for achievement and deportment, personnel, barracks and parade ground (Oki, 1967).
A small number of nisei who signed up later trained at the Simcoe Basic Training camp before being sent to the S-20 school.
No. 17 Platoon at Basic Infantry Training; Brantford, ON, 1945. Roy Ito Collection. JCCC 2001.76.05.05.
Canadian Intelligence Corps Uniform Belonging to George Kadota; circa 1945. Photographed by Yatabe family, December 2024. JCCC Original Military Collection. JCCC 2005.01.01.62.
Canadian Intelligence Corps Uniform Belonging to George Kadota; circa 1945. Photographed by Yatabe family, December 2024. JCCC Original Military Collection. JCCC 2005.01.01.62.
A Group Portrait of Nisei Soldiers Marching Down a Street; Brantford, ON, 8 May 1945. Yukio Ode Collection. JCCC 2011.126.23.31.
From right to left: Tadashi Ode, Yosh Hyodo, John Tsuchiya, Mas Kawanami, Roy Ito, Louis Suzuki, Greg Ohashi, and Roy Matsui. Nisei Soldiers at Union Station in Toronto, ON, circa 1945. JCCC Original Military Collection. JCCC 2005.01.01.46. From left to right:
Standing : George Tanaka, “Duke” Shintani, Sergeant Gardner, “Fats” Iseaki, Saichi Imai, John Tani.
Kneeling: Tom Sagara, Tom Shoyama, Tom Hoshieaki, “Costello” Sato.Nisei Soldiers at Union Station in Toronto, ON, circa 1945. JCCC Original Military Collection. JCCC 2005.01.01.46.
From left to right: George Tanaka, Tom Sagara, Costello Sato, Akira Isezaki, Tom Hoshizaki, Saichi Imai, Duke Shintani
No. 17 Platoon, B Company, Basic Infantry Training; Brantford, ON, circa 1945. Mary and Roy Matsui Collection. NNMCC TD 1471. From left, front row: Joe Kato, Sgt. Detheridge, Lt. J. Marion, Cpl. E. Clare, L/Cpl. E. Sawyer, Tom Yamashita. Second row: Harry Miyazawa, Roy Matsui, Minoru Yatabe, Ron Oki, Kiyoshi Kameda, Eiji Yatabe, Roger Obata, Kayzie Nishio. Third row: Nobby Koyama, Mas Ono, Dick Adachi, Tak Kunitomo, Masao Hyodo, Robert Oikawa, Arthur Sakamoto, George Hasegawa, Tadashi Ode. Back row: Tsutomu Shimizu, Mits Arikado, John Tsuchiya, Louis Suzuki, Roy Ito, Yoshio Hyodo, Rusty Oki, Greg Ohashi, Frank Takayesu, Dave Watanabe.
