Personal correspondence of Hiro Higuchi, the bulk of which dates from August 1943 through November 1945, when Higuchi was serving as a chaplain for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The majority of the correspondence consists of letters exchanged between Higuchi and his wife Hisako, whom he refers to as “Mom.” Also included are letters from his son Peter, and several letters from family and friends.

From the time he left Hawaii in August 1943, Higuchi wrote detailed letters documenting his activities at the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Harvard University, Camp Shelby, Miss., and the European Front in Italy and France. He wrote frequent letters back home detailing his duties, activities and experiences, as well as his impressions of the war and the people and places he encountered. His descriptive letters provide insight into the mindset and experiences of the soldiers of the 442nd R.C.T. and the nature of military life in World War II. He describes the rigors of training at Chaplain School and Camp Shelby; the relations of Japanese American soldiers from Hawaii and the Mainland; the reputation of the 442nd R.C.T. and the 100th Infantry Battalion; living conditions in camp and on the front lines; and his physical and spiritual health. He also describes his duties as a chaplain, including ministering to the needs of the soldiers, conducting services on the front lines, retrieving casualties from the battlefield, providing comfort to the wounded, writing home to the families of soldiers killed in battle, and conducting memorial services. He speculates on the course of the war, and expresses his feelings concerning the horrors of war. He provides detailed accounts of his impressions of the places he visits, especially in Italy and France and of his interactions with Italian and French civilians, as well as his relationships with American and even German soldiers.

Hisako wrote numerous letters to her husband describing life at home in Pearl City, Oahu. Her detailed accounts of daily life provide insight into the nature of life on the homefront during World War II. She writes at length about the activities of their school-age son Peter, as well as their daughter Jane, who was born in December 1943, and whom Higuchi did not meet until he returned home after the war. Hisako also describes household concerns, daily routines, meals, shopping, her interactions with family and friends, church happenings, and local news and events.

The majority of the letters were written using a typewriter, although several letters were written by hand. This series also contains a folder of “Victory Mail” letters Higuchi wrote to Hisako. “Victory Mail,” more commonly known as “V-Mail,” was a form of mail used by U.S. forces during World War II in order to lower postage costs and reduce the volume for shipping purposes. Soldiers would write their letters on a specific form, and these were then microfilmed and shipped to the United States, where a small (roughly 4-by-5 inch) photographic positive of the microfilm was produced and delivered to the recipient.

In several instances, select correspondence has been restricted out of concern for privacy. These letters have been substituted with photocopies of the letters with sensitive information blacked out.