Japanese American Military Experience Database
George T. Morikawa
Gender
Male
Birth date
1921-11-24
Place of birth
Bakersfield CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1944-7-20, Fort Sheridan IL
Enlistment type
Draftee
Service branch
Army
Service type
War
Unit type
Support
Units served
215th Quartermaster Service Corp
Military specialty
Rifleman
Stationed
Camp Blanding, FL; Ft. Meade, MD; Germany.
Separated
Fort Sheridan IL
Unit responsibility
Occupation of Germany; Quartermaster Service Corp.
Personal responsibility
Clothing repair; Motor Pool; Supply Depot Fire Chief.
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
Victory Medal; European-Middle Eastern-African Theater Ribbon; 2 Oversea Bars; Army of Occupation Medal-Germany; Good Conduct Medal.
Living conditions
We lived in barracks and had showers. As a Nisei replacement unit, we got rice quite often. Went sight-seeing and drank beer at a pub for entertainment. Furloughed in Switzerland and Italy for entertainment also.
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
Proved to US that JA's were loyal Americans.
Additional information
I was working in Bakersfield, CA as an autobody apprentice when war started on 12/7/1941.
Relocated to Poston, AZ from 1942 to 1943.
Relocated to Denver, CO in May 1943.
Relocated to Chicago, IL in May 1944 and entered the service and was discharged here.
Married Sadako Morikawa Nov. 1949.
Retired as autobody combination man at Cadillac dealer.
Used to race in my younger days, but currently only bowl in a Nisei league.
Three brothers served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. One brother served in MIS.
Wife, Sadako, passed away June 3, 1997