This case explores the war in the Pacific. This is where the war began and ended for the United States, from the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. Click on the green stars to learn more!

Japanese troops captured two Alaskan islands in 1942. Members of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, helped recapture the island of Kiska in 1943. This flag was taken as a war souvenir by a soldier of the 87th

Japanese National Flag made of white cotton with a red circle sewn in the center. The edges are folded over and stitched. Two brass grommets are attached to one end to attach the flag to a pole.

Flag, Japan 3

Flag, Japan 1

Flag, Japan 2

History Colorado

Flag, Japan

Rectangular paper poster with a black ink illustration. Caricature of U.S. soldier chasing a Japanese soldier while pointing his guy at the Japanese soldier.

Inscription Spoil My/Christmas//Furlough,//Will Ya! Lowry Boys Have Private//Grievance Against Japs!

Poster, Spoil My Christmas Furlough, Will YA! 1

Poster, Spoil My Christmas Furlough, Will YA! 2

Poster, Spoil My Christmas Furlough, Will YA!

Michio Tanawaki was born in the United States but moved to Japan in the 1930s. When war broke out, he served in the Japanese military as a radio operator in Hiroshima. His pocket-sized journal records his memories of the day the US dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan. Tanawaki survived the bomb, and later moved to Denver to continue working in electronics. 

A small, bound journal of roughly 90 pages. The writing is in wartime Japanese characters.

Journal, Michio Taniwaki’s from WWII

The Type 99 machine gun was developed in 1939 and saw use with Japanese forces throughout the Pacific during World War II. With its gravity-assisted top-fed design and offset sites, the weapon’s unusual design made it a popular souvenir for American troops. Japan produced roughly 53,000 of these machine guns throughout the war

	
Breech loading, repeater, self contained metallic cartridge, full automatic, box magazine to feed (30 rounds), 7.7 mm caliber
metallic center fire cartridge, 21 3/4" round with large screw type serrations (fins) for air cooling effect
wood butt stock, pistol grip and carry handle, type of wood unknown

Japanese, gas operated, magazine fed, air cooled type 99 Light Machine gun. The folding bipod supports the weapon on the front and has a rear monopod to support the weapon and adjusts for elevation. Leather and canvas carrying sling. Wood stock, serrated pistol grip and wood carrying handle. A flash suppressor is screwed on to the muzzle. Sights are offset to the left side of the weapon because of top feed magazine.

74-56-1_v1.JPG

74.56.1.v2.jpg

74.56.1.B.v1.jpg

74.56.1.B.v2.jpg

74.56.1.A.v5.jpg

Japanese Type 99 Light Machine Gun

Kijiro Nambu designed the Type 14 pistol for the Imperial Japanese Army. It served Japanese troops throughout the Pacific in conflicts from the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 through World War II. Roughly 400,000 of the pistols were produced by 1945

The Type 14 is a semi-automatic pistol. The magazine well is in the handle grip and can hold 8 rounds. Grip is slanted with a linear grooved grip. Narrow barrel attached to a slide and circular hammer.

Pistol, Japanese Type 14 - Display

Pistol, Japanese Type 14 - 3

Pistol, Japanese Type 14 - 4

Pistol, Japanese Type 14 - 1

Pistol, Japanese Type 14 - 2

Pistol, Japanese Type 14

Francis and Norman Morse served together aboard the USS Arizona. Both perished during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. They are among the over two thousand Americans who died that day. The boys’ mother sent these letters when she heard about the attack, but they were returned unopened, confirming her worst fears.

Check out "Close-up: Pearl Harbor" to learn more about the objects!

Collection consist of correspondence, programs, photographs, and other material relating to Clara May Dyer Morse. Born in Maryville, Tennessee in 1895, Clara May Dyer married Roy B. Morse in Lamar, Colorado in 1918. The couple had two sons, Francis Jerome (b. 1919) and Norman Roi (b. 1921). In 1932, following the death of Roy Morse, they relocated to Denver, where both boys attended East High School. By 1938 both Francis and Norman had enlisted in the Navy, serving together on the U.S.S. Arizona. Both Morse sons died during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In 1942, Clara May Morse graduated from the 5th Corps Red Cross Nurses Aid Program, and later worked at a number of hospitals in Denver as a nurse. Portions of this collection are excerpted in "The Day Clara May Morse Died: Pearl Harbor and One Mother's Heartbreak" (Colorado History, Autumn 1991), edited by Clark Secrest.

The Purple Heart is suspended on purple ribbon. The medal is made in the shape of a heart bordered with gold. Within the center of the heart is a bust of Washington. On top of the heart is Washington’s coat-of-arms.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Standards for Zoom In: The Pacific Theater

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework