George Hayashida
Go For Broke National Education Center
UCLA, Kienna Chhoeu, Student Researcher

Early Life and Incarceration
George Hayashida was a Japanese American veteran who served in World War II. George Hayashida was born on September 6, 1922, in Sanger, California. He was forcibly relocated to Fresno Assembly Center when he was 19 years old. Not much is known about his life prior to the forceful relocation, except that he received two years of high school education. On October 31, 1942, he registered for the army.

Military Service
He enlisted in the army on January 16, 1946, in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and was discharged on January 30, 1947. In Fort Snelling he rose to the ranks of Technician Fifth Grade (T/5). His role would have most likely been a radio operator or translator as he was educated at Fort Snelling and spoke both English and Japanese. The role was equivalent to a Corporal without the leadership responsibilities. His graduation class was Snel-45-09. During World War II, George was stationed in various locations, involved with intelligence work.

Post-Service Life
After his military service he worked as a showman in Fresno, California, which meant he was an employee of traveling shows either a performer or operator for these events. George Hayashida married his wife, Sets Sato, on November 2, 1952. Not much is known about his life post-service but it can be said he lived a remarkable life and was resilient and dedicated with his work during and post-service. George Hayashida passed away on October 12, 1998, at 76 years old. He is buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, his plot is located in Section SS Site A22.

Fort Snelling
Before Fort Snelling, the Military Intelligence Service Language Schools (MISLS) operated at Camp Savage located in Savage, Minnesota, but it quickly exceeded the facilities and moved to Fort Snelling from August 1944 to October 1946. Because of the nature of World War II and the increased hostility against the Japanese American community, the MISLS became an important part for war efforts. It hosted many Nisei from the mainland, focusing on Japanese language training, attending basic training before language training. The population in this camp was mixed; the earlier graduation classes had Japanese Americans who were older and more knowledgeable in the language; the later classes were younger and had a little bit less knowledge. The training at the MISLS was made to produce skills for Japanese reading, writing, interrogation, translation, and interpretation. Many of the soldiers were sent abroad after learning these skills. Many of the graduates were positioned to be translators, interrogators, interpreters, code-breakers, and psychological warfare specialists. Their language skills and cultural understanding were valued, especially in the Pacific Theater.

George Hayashida was born on September 6, 1922, in Sanger, California. He passed away on October 12, 1998, in Los Angeles, and is buried in Section SS, Row A, Plot/Site 22. George enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1946, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and served until his discharge on January 30, 1947. Before his military service, he worked as a showman and lived at 1064 Draper Fresno, CA. During World War II, George was stationed in various locations and was involved in intelligence work, reflecting his critical role in the war effort. George's military service is also marked by his incarceration in Jerome, Arkansas, where he arrived on October 31, 1942, and left on June 23, 1943. George's parents were Goichi Hayashida and Kachi Shimamaura, and he continued to live a life marked by dedication and resilience after his service, although specific details of his post-service life remain unknown.

This biography was researched and written by students as part of the Digital Veterans Legacy Project at Loyola Marymount University, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration.  


Los Angeles National Cemetery

Grave marker image for (GEORGE HAYASHIDA).

GEORGE T HAYASHIDA

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