Gender

Male

Birth date

1923-11-20

Place of birth

Seattle WA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-8-4, Minidoka ID

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

Co. D , 100th Bn. 442 Regt. Combat Team

Military specialty

Rifleman - machine gun

Stationed

Camp Shelby, MS; Mentone, France; Leghorn, Italy

Separated

Camp Lewis WA

Unit responsibility

Fighting the German Army.

Personal responsibility

Ammo bearer for 30 caliber, water-cooled machine gun.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Massa, Italy. Push back North the German Army entrenched N. of Massa, Italy.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Rifleman Badge; Good Conduct Medal; Distinguished Unit Citation for our unit's bravery and accomplishment under heavy fire.

Living conditions

On the last campaign in attacking the German Army, I lived in dugouts and fox holes for weeks with no bathing until we were relieved. We ate C rations or K-rations, canned food or dry rations. No entertainment. Wrote letters home.

Most vivid memory of military experience

To take German prisoners of young age as myself and some younger. Why do we as human beings have enemies we did not make and why do we try killing each other for no good reason of our own? To see these young kids just as they see us and to have to snuff their life away when we all should have so much to live for, is very sad.

Missed most whilst in the military

My dad who was whisked away on Dec. 8,1941 with no chance of ever saying goodbye properly.

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

That war is Hell to everybody. Learn to appreciate love between the family and show your love when you are together.

Additional information

The hate that was brought about against the No-No boys. I was a borderline person, since the Gov't was so cruel to my Dad, especially, and to my family. They (No-No Boys) did what they believed in and you can't fault them.