An agreement was signed Thursday May 26, 2011 between the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) and The Presidio Trust (Trust) to rehabilitate Building 640 in the Presidio of San Francisco for reuse as the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center (MISHLC). Building 640, a former warehouse located along Crissy Field, is the site of the first Military Intelligence Service Language School organized in November 1941 on the eve of World War II to train 58 Nikkei (Japanese American) and 2 Caucasian US Army personnel as soldier linguists to serve in the Pacific Theater.

“This is an American story, “ explained NJAHS Board member and MIS veteran Marvin Uratsu, whose late brother Gene was a member of the first class.“It is told by those who served their country in a time that the US Constitution was really tested. As Japanese Americans we chose these paths in the hope that our America could become ‘a more perfect union’.”

A special ceremony will be held on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 at 9:30 am at the Building 640 site to celebrate this historic agreement. Call NJAHS at 415.921.5007 or email njahs@njahs.org for more information on the ceremony.

For directions to Building 640 visit: http://njahs.org/contactus .php#building640