Idaho, Jerome County Historical Society, Minidoka Japanese Relocation Center Military Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index to military record index cards of those interned at the Minidoka Japanese Relocation Center, also known as Camp Hunt, located in Jerome County, Idaho from 1942-1945. Japanese internment camps were established during World War II by President Franklin Roosevelt through his Executive Order 9066. From 1942 to 1945, it was the policy of the U.S. government that people of Japanese descent would be interred in isolated camps. Enacted in reaction to Pearl Harbor and the ensuing war, the Japanese internment camps are now considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century.

The Minidoka Japanese Relocation Center was opened August 10, 1942 and was in operation until October 28, 1945. It reached its’ maximum population of 9,397 in March 1943. Most of the internees came from the Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon areas with a few coming from Alaska.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The index cards reference the date and page of the Minidoka Irrigator, a weekly newspaper published in and for the camp, in which the records can be found.

The following information may be found in these records:

Military
 * Japanese enlistments
 * Draftees
 * Volunteers
 * Enlisted reservist reports
 * Hunt service men in armed forces
 * Promotions
 * Wounded in action
 * Killed in action
 * Missing in action
 * Prisoner of war
 * Liberated
 * Medals
 * Honor roll
 * Those called for final physical

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the ancestor
 * When the person was place in the relocation center

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death on the states and county level
 * Prior to internment, find the family in census records
 * Search for military records for the individual
 * Locate additional county records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Check for variants of given names and surnames
 * It was not uncommon for an individual to be listed under a nickname, middle name, an abbreviation, or even initials
 * Search the records of nearby locations

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Idaho.
 * Idaho Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1910 &#124; 1911-Present
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.