During World War One, Japanese-American sailors in the U.S. Navy served almost exclusively in segregated enlisted ratings. They were largely restricted to roles as stewards, mess attendants, warrant officer cooks, and bakers.

For example, sailors like Tokichi Yokohata served as a mess attendant on battleships like the USS Texas before reenlisting to serve in the Navy during World War I.

Many Japanese immigrants actively volunteered for the U.S. military during WWI because recruitment campaigns — particularly in Hawaii — suggested that honorable military service would provide a legal pathway to naturalized American citizenship. While more than 800 Japanese served in the U.S. Army (largely in the Hawaii National Guard's Company D), a smaller contingent served throughout the U.S. Navy, mostly as stewards, cooks and mess attendants.