Gender

Male

Birth date

1921-12-26

Place of birth

Chicago IL, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-7-1, Ft. Leavenworth KS

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War,peacetime

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team - WW II, Officer

7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division - Korea

MAAG HQS - South Vietnam

14th Infantry Regiment - Camp Carson, CO and

Schofield Barracks, HI with 25th Division

Retired - 21 years service

Military specialty

Infantry, MOS:1542

Stationed

USA - Ft Leavenworth, KS; Ft Riley, KS; Ft Benning, GA; Ft McClelland, AL; Cp Shelby, MS; Cp Robinson, AR; Ft Knox, KY; Ft Monmouth, NJ; Schofield Barracks, HI; Ft Leonard Wood, MO; Ft Dix, NJ; Alaska

Other countries - Italy; France, Germany; Austria; Korea; Vietnam; Canada

Separated

Fort Dix NJ

Unit responsibility

442nd RCT - Cannon Company

Personal responsibility

442nd RCT - Platoon leader and forward observer directing fire on enemy and looking out after my men.

Korea - 1st Battalion Communication Officer, 'C' Company Commander, Regimental Staff S-3 Assistant - 7th Infantry Regiment

Vietnam - Briefing Officer for Chief MAAG and Joint Staff

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

WW II, 442nd RCT - Rome-Arno, Rhineland, Appennines, Po Valley Campaigns

Korea, 7th Infantry Regiment - CCF Intervention, 1st UN Counter Offensive, CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, 2nd Korean Winter

Vietnam - 1963

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Combat Infantryman Badge - 2 awards

Bronze Star - 'V' Device plus 2nd award

Purple Heart - 2 awards

Joint Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal

Presidential Unit Citation - 2nd Battalion 442nd RCT, Fakuda Task Force 442nd RCT, and Regimental Citation

Korea - 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment Korean PUC, April 22-25, 1951

Living conditions

With the 442nd RCT, we slept in pup tents, foxholes, once in awhile a house or barn depending on its destruction. We used our steel helmets to bathe mostly. If in reserve, we had mobile shower units! Meals mostly were cold rations. When in reserve, warm meals. Saw one USO show during combat. One after war ended. When in reserve some men with guitars or ukes would sing Hawaiian songs along with beer rations?? And it was fun for this Haole!

Most vivid memory of military experience

I was raised in Stockton, IL (2000 population). I never knew Japanese Americans or other racially different persons. When I reported in to Col Pence (Regimental Commander), he looked at me and did a double take - 'How old are you Lt?', 'Sir, I'm 22!', 'You don't look a day over 18 to me!' (I did look young). Years later, I found out I was called 'The baby face Lt!'?

After our interview, he then stated, ' Lt., I'm sure you noticed our men are AJA's. If ever you feel you can't handle your duties with them, or you develop any prejudice, see my adjutant and you will be transferred out in 24 hours!'

I'm still with them and haven't missed any major reunions since 1982 or my company reunions since 1988. And after 4 years at Schofield Barracks (1955-1959), learned even more of the culture and motivation of the American Japanese people. Next to my children and wives, it has been one on my life's greatest experiences.

Missed most whilst in the military

A certain amount of freedom. However I was always a reserve on active duty and except in time of war, enjoyed my 21 years of service, AND especially with the 442nd RCT.

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

When you consider your neighbor, your community, and the world in general - remember this - that the blood of all humans is red! With one exception, human bodies have essentially the same functions. Outwardly there are various colors of skin, different body and facial shapes, indicating racial and ethnic differences of humankind. Prejudice is but a figmentation of the mind!

Additional information

I could go on longer than you might believe! My military career was very colorful and exciting in many ways.

My experience with the 442nd shaped much of my attitudes about people and enhanced my ability to get along with my contemporaries and superiors, but most of all with the men under my command or section.

Since retiring from the military in 1964, I graduated from Arizona State University (1966) (BA in Education) and taught high school social studies for 18 years.

My second retirement was June 1985. However, I find the 'Golden Years' can get tarnished very quickly! Get an education, work hard, and hit the lottery!

One incident worth mentioning when we first went into combat. In training, the men were not inclined to dig foxholes when on field exercises. When the 'real shells' began to fall, they dug like hell - and fast! One soldier, from Hawaii said, 'I dug so deep I could hear the guitars on Waikiki Beach!'