Gender

Male

Birth date

1926-1-2

Place of birth

Sacramento CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-6-15, Fort Douglas UT

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

Company ''A'', 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Military specialty

Rifleman M-1

Stationed

USA: Camp Blanding, FL

Other Countries: Marseille, France; Livorno, Italy

Separated

Ft. Sheridan IL

Unit responsibility

To spearhead in attacking the enemies. holding the line and supporting other units.

Personal responsibility

Rifleman in a 12-man squad, part of a platoon. I was 3rd man in the BAR team (ammunition bearer).

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

North Apennines Campaign
Po Valley Campaign
Rhineland Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon w/3 Bronze Battle Stars
WWII Victory Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Distinguished Unit Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge

Living conditions

There is a big difference in living conditions between war and peacetime.

War time: We slept in foxholes, abandoned homes, barns and buildings. If we were lucky, we were pulled off the line for 4 days for hot meals, shower and change of clothes. My first was after 30 days on the line. We used our steel helmet to bathe, wash socks/clothes and to eat out of it. Sometimes we traded rations with Italian people. If not, we ate K-rations or C-rations.

Peacetime: Lived in tent city similar to MASH on TV with mess tents, food and showers. However we were lucky if we got rice which is a staple food for the niseis.

For entertainment: Off the line, we went sightseeing to the nearest town.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Being 18 years old and saying good-bye to the family through barbed wire fence with MP standing guard before going overseas. We all cried and even today after 59 years, thinking about that day brings tears to my eyes.

Missed most whilst in the military

Family, friends and home cooked meals.

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

Work as a team.
Learn to get along with everyone.
You have your rights but respect other people's rights.