Gender

Male

Birth date

1925-6-5

Place of birth

Honolulu HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

, Schofield Barracks HI

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

MISLS Sec 19 (Graduated Savage, July 1943)
Hqs Co. MISLS
176th Language Detachment
188th Airborne Regiment
11th Airborne Division

Military specialty

Military Intelligence
Linguist
Paratrooper
Infantryman

Stationed

USA: Camp Savage, MN.(MISLS); Fort Benning, GA (Parachutist Training, Class 113); Camp MacCall, NC (Basic Infantry Airborne Training)
Other Countries: Brisbane, Australia (Base ATIS); Dobodura, New Guinea (11th Airborne Division); Leyte & Luzon, Philippines (11th Airborne Division)

Separated

Hickam Field HI

Unit responsibility

Military intelligence
Seek and engage enemy in combat and defeat and secure the real estate.

Personal responsibility

Interrogate prisoners of war and translate captured documents to secure tactical information

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Liberation of Philippines - particularily battle of Leyte Island, invasion of Southern Luzon, and liberation of Nichols Field and Ft. McKinley; rescue of prisoners at Los Banos Prison

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

PRESIDENTAL UNIT CITATION- (Streamer embroidered MANILA)- for outstanding heroism and superior performance against enemy at Luzon, Philippines on 1/31/45-Regimental Hdq., 188th Regiment, 11th Air Division.
Combat INFANTRY BADGE- For action in Leyte and Luzon, Philippines
BRONZE SERVICE ARROWHEAD- Initial wave in the amphibian landing of Nasugbu Bay, l/31/45.
BRONZE STAR- for outstanding and superior performance in leading a patrol with a Japanese POW to pinpoint Japanese artillery position- Battle of Mt. Malepungo.
Following service medals:
American Campaiagn Service Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Liberation Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
PARACHUTIST BADGE- For successfully completing parachutist jump school- February 1944

Living conditions

LEYTE- It rained constantly and we were constantly wet. We slept in foxholes and ate 10 in 1 rations.
LUZON- It was dry. We were forced to march sixty plus miles on day of landing. We ate C rations. First pass we had, we went into Manila and had a water buffalo steak and coke. We lived in quarters in local residence taken over by the army.

Most vivid memory of military experience

First five times I ever flew in an airplane, I never landed in the plane. The first five jumps from an airplane and the thrill of jumping. The interrogation of my first prision of war--a young pilot officer who was badly injured....I wondered if he ever survived.

Missed most whilst in the military

Family; Gohan

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

Military experience provided me with the characteristic of self confidence. At all times do the best you know how.

Additional information

The twelve years that my parents 'insisted' I go to Japanese School and study certainly paid off. Their guidance was material to my success at MISLS and subsequent service.