Gender

Male

Birth date

1912-7-24

Place of birth

Long Beach CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-8-21, Ft. Douglas UT

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Military specialty

Rifleman, Infantry 745

Stationed

USA: Camp Shelby, MS
Other Countries: Italy, France

Separated

Fletcher Hosp, Cambridge OH

Unit responsibility

Infantry company combat unit

Personal responsibility

Rifleman

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno Italian Campaign
France-Bruyeres Lost Battalion Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

European-Middle Eastern-African Campaign Medal
Purple Heart
Combat Infantryman Badge

Living conditions

During basic training, we lived in barracks and in field for training. Most of our meals were in the company mess. We had regular barracks with kitchen and showers.

Overseas, we used shelter if not in combat, on the line, we dug slit trench when we were able or stayed in buildings when available. But, we were outside most of the time, rain or shine. We survived mostly on K or C Rations.

Most vivid memory of military experience

The change from civilian to military basic to military soldiers ready for overseas and the long voyage from States to Italy.

I saw a German plane attack an allied ammo dump before we got on line advancing from Civitavichia to Arno River.

K Company, lst platoon baptized first day on line. Casualty--1 lieutenant, 1 1st sergeant and captain was out of action. (I don't remember much more).

I participated in Lost Battalion rescue about October 25, 1944. 31 wounded and out of action October 28, l944.

Missed most whilst in the military

I missed the hot showers and dry bed overseas.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

We did what we were trained to do.

Additional information

I volunteered from Minidoka. I trained in Camp Shelby with 442nd RCT. When I arrived in Italy, I was attached to 34th Division, 5th Army. I arrived in France attached to 36th Division. I participated in Bruyeres -Lost Battalion rescue.