Gender

Male

Birth date

1920-08-18

Place of birth

Seattle WA, USA

Inducted

1943-04-28, Ft. Logan CO

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, 36th Texas Division 7th Army - 3rd Army - 5th Army - Italy 522nd Field Artillery, B Battalion

Military specialty

Prime Mover Driver

Stationed

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

Separated

Ft. McArthur-San Pedro CA

Unit responsibility

Artillery Support for 442nd Regimental Combat Team and others.

Personal responsibility

I hauled 105 howitzer and crew and gave 50 caliber machine gun support from turret above cab.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

I participated in the Anzio Beach Head to Rome to Po Valley, Northern Italy, Southern France, landing in Marseille, France, Rhone Valley, Strasburg, Siegfried Line and over the Rhine River into Southern Germany to Munich, Germany.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

We rescued the lst Battalion -141st Infantry Regiment in Biffontaine, France. They were surrounded by Germans for 7 days. We liberated the inmates of the infamous Dachau Concentration Camp. I received 4 battle stars.

Living conditions

We were always outdoors so we slept in open air tents and in the cab of the truck beside our howitzer. Whenever we had a chance we bathed beside streams. Sometimes we were taken to bath houses in Cecina, Italy and Newtone, France. We had hot meals most of time from our mess truck. We, also, ate C Rations, K Rations and 10 in l Rations.

Most vivid memory of military experience

There were three of us sitting on top of a pile of 105 artillery shells still in their casings. Above us on a slight hill was stationed an anti-aircraft unit with four 50 caliber machine guns mounted on a l/2 track. While cleaning their guns, a few rounds were accidenatly shot off. All of a sudden we saw smoke coming out of one of the artillery shell. Two of us dove for a ditch. The other person grabbed a shovel and started shoveling dirt on top of the smoking shells. It was ironic the shell didn't kill us. This person received the Silver Star for his bravery. One of our guns was sent out on a Roving Missions (fire from different locations). Word came back that he was stuck somewhere. My section was ordered to locate and get them out. Meanwhile, the rest of our unit received orders to move out- (March Order). They dropped off road markers at crucial points to direct us in the right direction. Meanwhile, night settled and we were following the road markers to catch up with our unit. A few miles before Bruyeres (which was still in German hands) there was a fork to the left where they dropped off the last road marker to direct us to the left. Here we came, headed into Bruyeres, past the fork, about l/2 block when all of a sudden, there was pounding and hollering. I stopped the truck and the road marker was hollering. We had to back up and make a left. He must have left the post to relieve himself and missed us. If we went on ahead, we would probably been blasted by anti-tank guns.

Missed most whilst in the military

Most of all, I missed my family. I, also, missed the lights at night, the restaurants, ice cream, fresh milk and a bed to sleep in.

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

I had a feeling of accomplishment and contribution. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team came through the war with flying colors and to make any Japanese American proud of their heritage.

Additional information

Residence: Victorville, CA