In honor of Asian American/Pacific Islander observances, we submit the following extract from a letter written by CWO Arthur Komori in 1949 to the Commanding General of the CIC Center, Camp Holabird, Baltimore, Maryland. It clearly describes the varied critical and dangerous duties of a Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent during World War II.
"I enlisted on 13 March 1941 for duty with the Corps of Intelligence Police at Ft. Shafter, T.H., together with… Richard M. Sakakida. We both volunteered for duty in the Philippines for an undercover assignment. We were appointed Sergeants on the day of enlistment.
On 22 April 1941, I commenced my duty with the CIP unit, G-2, Headquarters, Philippine Department, Ft. Santiago, P.I., in an undercover capacity. I was registered at a Japanese hotel in Manila, and assumed a role of a civilian looking for a job. In secret meetings with my Commanding Officer, I learned the techniques of undercover investigations… I was never detected as a spy by the Japanese. When war broke out, I voluntary [sic] had myself placed in internment together with the Japanese people in order to seek information concerning the war capability and plans of the enemy. That placed me at the mercy of the Philippine constabulary guards, since I was considered no different than the other Japanese… In spite of the danger, I stuck to my undercover role until I was relieved of that assignment and delivered from internment about a week after the outbreak of war.
I participated in the Evacuation of Manila, Battle of Bataan, and Battle of Corregidor… Until I escaped from Corregidor on orders of General Jonathan Wainwright on 13 April 1942, I participated in front-line interrogation and translation of Japanese information or prisoners of war. I was the only CIC agent authorized to escape to Australia upon the Fall of Bataan.
On reporting for duty to the A.C. of S., G-2, GHQ, whose name was Major General Charles A. Willoughby, on 16 April 1942, after making good my escape from Corregidor, I was able to write various reports on the operations of a CIC unit in combat, which were highly considered by General Willoughby...
On or about 1 September 1942, I led a newly arrived group of Nisei interpreters from America from Melbourne to Brisbane to set up a new allied unit in G-2, GHQ. I was the NCO in charge of the Allied Translator and Interpreter Unit, and helped to lay the foundations of the Unit which eventually helped shorten the war, according to General Willoughby, by several years, by its intelligence work on enemy documents and prisoners of war. Upon completing my assignment, I returned to my CIC duties as a Special Agent on 13 December 1942…
Upon my return to G-2, HQ, USASOS… Sydney, Australia, I engaged in Headquarters loyalty and security investigations. It was my duty to maintain security of the installation by disseminating security information to every division of the headquarters, as well as conducting active investigations to search out security leakages. All personnel in sensitive duties were investigated for their loyalty and… reports were submitted on them. Whenever Japanese intelligence information was required, I was called upon to furnish assistance to the requesting agencies…
I was a radio monitor and in that capacity monitored and evaluated the radio broadcasts of Radio Tokyo. The information gained from such broadcasts were widely disseminated throughout the various intelligence agencies…
From 6 April 945 to 25 August 1945, I was engaged in interrogating captured enemy soldiers and spies and obtained information concerning their subversive missions. Other duties I performed were those of translating and interpreting Japanese documents and information in the Counter Intelligence Section, Hqs, USAFFE.
On 25 August 1945, I was the only Special Agent detailed to enter Japan on the first shipload of troops entering Tokyo Bay. I acted as the interpreter for Brigadier General Thorpe, Chief, CIC, Colonel Jennis Galloway, C.O. 441st CIC Detachment, and Colonel Hoover, Chief Censor, on our dash into Tokyo on 3 September 1945, the day after the surrender of Japan. Until 15 November 1945, I engaged in translator and interpreter duties in the Counter Intelligence Section… General Thorpe submitted a recommendation for the award of the Bronze Star to me, and it was duly authorized in December 1945."
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