In 1941, the facilities at Fort Missoula were turned over for a period of 5 years from the Army to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It was established to hold foreign nationals and resident aliens. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese communities were raided, and men were taken into custody to be tried in “Loyalty Hearings.” Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp held 2200 Italian and Japanese detainees throughout the time it was opened.

This facility was closed in 1944. The Japanese detainees were then sent to DOJ camps in Santa Fe. The Italian detainees either returned to Italy, joined the American military or married American women to stay in the US.

Photo at right: Black and white wide shot photo of buildings at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Black and white photo of a group of people standing outside the gates of Fort Missoula, 1943. They are either checking in or checking out.

Photo at right: Black and white photo of a group of detainees at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are outside on the fort grounds, and there is snow on the ground.

Document at right: Copy of permit granted to the Department of Justice for the use of Fort Missoula for five years, signed by B.W. Mills from the office of the Assistant Secretary of War, April 1941

Document at right: Copy of letter to U.S. Surgeon General from Lemuel B. Schofield, Special Assistant to the Attorney General regarding the detention of alien seamen at Fort Missoula, April 1941

Document at right: Rules for the detained crews of the Italian ships at the Detention Station at Fort Missoula, May 1941

Newspaper clippings at right: Newspaper clipping from the Missoulian announcing the arrival of Italian seamen at Fort Missoula, May 1941

Document at right: Information summarizing the establishment, provisioning, and operations of the Fort Missoula Camp, May 1941

Arrival

The Lend Lease Act was enacted by the United States in an attempt to stay neutral during World War II in Europe. Italian and German sea merchant ships were seized in ports and crews detained under the Alien Detention Act. After spending time at Ellis Island, those detained were sent by train to Missoula. Also detained were Italians working at the World’s Fair in California. Upon arrival, the Italian seamen exclaimed “Que Bella Vista” - “What a beautiful view”.

The Japanese men (and some families) arrived at Fort Missoula for “Loyalty Hearings” as there was a perceived threat to the US according to the FBI. Many of the 1st generation Japanese (Issei) were taken from their homes in the middle of the night. Many of them were businessmen, Buddhist priests and Japanese language teachers with an average age of 60 yrs. The children of the Issei (2nd generation and born US citizens) were sent to the camps for months to years for loyalty hearings to determine if they were to receive parole, imprisonment or repatriation to Japan. Their families often did not know where they were taken and were often sent to camps separate from their husbands.

Photo at right: Entrance to the detainment area, Fort Missoula, 1942

Photo at right: New arrivals to be held for detainment, 1942

Photo at right: Internee baggage arriving at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Italians newly arriving at Fort Missoula, where they will be detained, 1943. The trunk in the front has a name partially visible, which reads 'Giacomini'.

Photo at right: A group of Japanese detainees arriving at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are standing in a wooden room, surrounded by piles of luggage.

Photo at right: A woman of Japanese descent holding a young child. She is sitting in a chair at Fort Missoula, 1943.

Photo at right: Japanese detainee holding a child at Fort Missoula, 1943

Document at right: List of deportation files from Robert H. Glover, Inspector in Charge, April 1941

Document at right: Letter to The Inspector in Charge, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Galveston, Texas from G.L. Cristy, U.S. Public Health Service, May 1941. Information given on vaccination of arriving detainees.

Document at right: Letter to Nick D. Collaer, Supervisor of Alien Detentions, Fort Missoula from Byron H. Uhl, District Director, New York District, May 1941. Listed are Italians arriving from New Jersey.

Document at right: Correspondence to District Director of Immigration and Naturalization, San Antonio, Texas from Lemuel B. Schofield, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, May 1941.

"It is desired that before leaving Galveston the baggage of all alien crew men be thoroughly fumigated, and that the men themselves be free from vermin."

Document at right: Copy of Surveillance Order No. 1 by Nick D. Collaer, Inspector in Charge, Fort Missoula, May 1941

Overseers

Those overseeing the operations and safety of the detainees in Missoula’s Alien Detention Center interacted regularly with those who were detained there. There was a chief patrol inspector, chief surveillance officer, chief liaison officer and 62 other civilian employees and US Border Patrol guards. These other employees included doctors, dentists, nurses, interpreters, janitors, supply officers, and clerical staff.

There was a 10 foot fence surrounding 33 acres of the detention center. There were both 40 foot guard towers as well as ground level towers at the gates. The local border patrol used both foot and horseback to patrol. Most were unarmed and there were few problems throughout the years that the detention center was open.

Photo at right: Italian detainee and INS agent at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Eleven uniformed Immigration and Naturalization Services agents lined up at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Uniformed Immigration and Naturalization Services agent at Fort Missoula, 1943. He stands in a shooting range in front of a target with a human figure drawn onto it, pointing a pistol at it. The walls are filled with bullet holes.

Daily Life

The Italian detainees were used to a social hierarchy from the ships so they were allowed to virtually self-govern. Roll call and breakfast was at 7AM. The day was spent doing chores and activities. There was an opportunity to use the library, music hall/recreation center and sports facilities. Detainees could write letters, do arts and crafts, take English lessons, and play sports.

Photo at right: Five Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula. They are all wearing suits and one appears to be carrying an instrument case.

Photo at right: Three people of Japanese descent, two women and a man, at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are sitting around a table along with a small dog.

Photo at right: Italian detainees at Fort Missoula during WWII, Fall 1942

Photo at right: Detainees from Fort Missoula bathing in a creek, 1943

Photo at right: Italian detainees at roll call at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Black and white photo of an Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula feeding three cats, 1943

Photo at right: Catholic service being performed at Fort Missoula, 1943. A priest in white robes stands next to another man in black on the porch of a white building. A group of men, likely Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, are standing and watching the service.

Photo at right: Two Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula standing next to a sign painted on a wall. The sign has the words 'keep out' in English and translations in Italian and Japanese.

Photo at right: Two Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula in the fort library, 1943

Photo at right: Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula learning mathematics, 1943

Photo at right: Two men, likely Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are seated in a room with a map of Europe on the wall. One man is reading a book, and the other is doing a jigsaw puzzle.

Food

Since the detainees fell under the guise of the Geneva Convention (detainees needed to have food and living quarters equal to US soldiers), many detainees ate better than the locals. They cooked and grew much of the food that was eaten at the Center.

Photo at right: Detainee kitchen at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Japanese detainee held at Fort Missoula, 1943. He is standing in a kitchen at the fort mixing something in a large bowl.

Photo at right: Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula in line at the mess hall, 1943. The detainees in line are sliding metal trays down the line and dishing food onto the trays.

Photo at right: Detainee mess hall at Fort Missoula, 1943. It is filled with Italian detainees held at the fort eating a meal.

Photo at right: Detainee mess hall at Fort Missoula, 1943. Long picnic tables are set up in rows, with baskets of bread and metal pitches set out at regular intervals. There is a portrait on the back wall that may be of Benito Mussolini.

Photo at right: Mess hall at Fort Missoula, 1943. It is filled with Italian detainees sitting at long tables. A handful of men are standing, and there are cardboard boxes labeled Rice Flakes at the end of each table.

Photo at right: Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula holding a tray of food, 1943. The detainee is in the hospital at the camp.

Photo at right: Black and white photo of a field of crops, grown by Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. Fort buildings are visible in the background.

Photo at right: Chicken coop at Fort Missoula. The chickens were raised by Italian detainees held at the fort, 1943.

Living Quarters

The first barracks used were the 2 Mission-style Army barracks. Then 16 wood framed barracks were shipped with 14 more to come. Each barrack held 40-60 men. It allowed for 40 square feet of living space for each person. The buildings had central heating. In April 1942, the largest number of detainees were recorded (2003) but 1300 were the average number of detainees held at Fort Missoula.

Photo at right: Detainee barracks at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Maximum security barracks at Fort Missoula in a 1958 photo

Photo at right: Detainee in a bunk at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Showers at Fort Missoula, 1943

Document at right: Memorandum for Mr. Adler from W.F. Kelly, Chief Supervisor Border Patrol, May 1941


"we have need for erection at Fort Missoula, Montana, at the earliest possible date sixteen 20 x 120 feet prefabricated CCC dormitories"

Jobs

The detainees had opportunities for work, both on the detention center grounds as well as off the grounds. There was plenty of need for laundry, cooking, cleaning, and farming on the center grounds. There was also a need for work for the forestry, railroad, construction of Highway 12, and helping local sugar beet farmers. The detainees were paid fair wages.

Document at right: Letter to District Director of Immigration and Naturalization, El Paso, Texas from Lemuel B. Schofield, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, June 1941

"Understand there is a surplus of sheepskin lined overcoats at Fort Stanton, New Mexico, which were procured from National Youth Administration. Please arrange to have half this surplus sent as soon as possible to Fort Lincoln and half to Fort Missoula for use of alien night fire guards."

Photo at right: Detainees from Fort Missoula doing construction work, 1943

Photo at right: Three Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. They doing construction work at the fort.

Photo at right: Mowing the lawn at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Black and white photo of a junkyard at Fort Missoula, 1943. It is full of construction debris. One man, likely an Italian detainee held at the fort, is standing next to a truck in one corner of the photo.

Photo at right: Detainees plowing crops at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula holding two sugar beets, 1943

Photo at right: Man, likely an Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula, hoeing a field of brassicas, 1943

Photo at right: Two small boats built by internees at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are on blocks outside a building at the fort. Names are painted on the boats: "Venezia" and "Trieste."

Photo at right: Three Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula working in the laundry at the fort, 1943

Photo at right: Two Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula working in the laundry at the fort, 1943

Photo at right: Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula pushing a wheeled cart with dirty dishes piled on it, 1943. The dishes were used by detainees being treated in the fort hospital.

Photo at right: Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula working at a barber shop, 1943. He stands holding a razor next to a chair in which another man is sitting.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula working in the tailor's shop at the fort, 1943. There are several pairs of pants at various stages of completion on tables in the room.

Photo at right: Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, in a field of crops near the fort, 1943. Two men stand in the foreground, one holding a hoe and the other holding two bunches of fish.

Photo at right: Camp for Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula doing forestry work, 1943. A sign in front of the camp reads: Property E.S. Gov't Positively no grazing or trespassing L and N Service.

Photo at right: Overhead view of barracks built for a crew of detainees forestry workers from Fort Missoula, 1943. Eight buildings are visible, as well as three detainees.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees standing in a clearing in front of a trailer, 1943. The group is a forestry work crew.

Photo at right: Two Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are using a cross-cut saw to cut up a fallen tree. The log is propped up on two shorter logs for ease of cutting.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula doing forestry work, 1943. There are two teams of horses pulling logs, and a stack of logs waiting to be moved.

Photo at right: Truck filled with logs driving down a forest road, 1943. Three Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula are riding with the logs in the back.

Photo at right: Italian detainee from Fort Missoula standing in a clearing full of felled trees, 1943. He is removing bark from one of the trees. The other trees in the clearing have already had the bark removed.

Photo at right: Large group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula working on railroad tracks, 1943

Recreation

The detainees at Fort Missoula had lots of opportunities for recreation. These included sports outside. There was not much interaction between the Italians and the Japanese. The Italians tended to play soccer and Bocce, while the Japanese played golf and baseball.

The large recreation hall, which later burned down in a fire, held music events, basketball, bowling, wrestling, and theatre productions. The Japanese men played both male and female characters.

There was a library, radio, boat making, polished rock art and other activities.

Photo at right: Black and white photo of a baseball game held at Fort Missoula, 1943. The players are Italian detainees.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula playing basketball at the fort, 1943

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula playing Bocce ball at the fort, 1943

Photo at right: Japanese detainees playing golf at Fort Missoula, 1943

Photo at right: Japanese detainee held at Fort Missoula playing golf. Fort buildings are visible in the background, 1943

Photo at right: Two men, likely Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, fencing, 1943

Photo at right: Soccer teams comprised of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. The water tower is visible in the background.

Photo at right: Soccer game held at Fort Missoula between two teams of Italian detainees held at the fort, 1943. There are spectators watching the game on the sidelines.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are seated on a bench outside watching a baseball game.

Photo at right: Group of Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula playing checkers, 1943

Photo at right: Two Italian detainees held at Fort Missoula, 1943. They are standing behind a cutting table working on a white dress for a theatrical performance. In the foreground a manikin is wearing a black dress with embellishments on the top

Photo at right: Italian detainee held at Fort Missoula sketching, 1943. He sits in front of an easel, with a small photograph taped to the top, which is the reference for the drawing.

Classroom Discussion Questions/Resources

An Alien Place: The Fort Missoula Detention Camp 1941-1944. Directed by Kimberly Hogberg, produced by Diane Sands et al., narrated by David Tanner, written by Annie Szotkowski and Kimberly Hogberg, NorthByNorthwest Digital Studio, 2016. MT PBS, www.montanapbs.org/programs/AnAlienPlace/.

Fort Missoula Museum exhibits.  Missoula, MT. September 2022

Fear was part of the reason that Japanese Americans and Italians were detained.  Does this happen in our world today?  Is this a good reason to hold people until the fear is viewed as unnecessary?

The detainees, especially the Italian men, had quite a bit of freedom for work and activities.  How might this affect their time at the center?

The Fort Missoula Detention Camp experience was different for each of the groups who were detained there.  Why do you think this might be so?

How was this camp similar or different from the concentration camps the Germans had in Europe?

Many of the Italians chose to stay in Missoula, why might that be so?

Do you think this could happen again if our country went to war with another country again?


There are hundreds of additional documents and photographs of Fort Missoula Detention Camp available on the Montana History Portal, you can view those here: 

Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp Collection

Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center Photograph Collection

Created by: Deb Westrom


Photo Credits:

Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

University of Montana Mansfield Library