Gender

Male

Birth date

1925-1-13

Place of birth

Fresno CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-4-1, Amache CO

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd RCT- I Co.

Military specialty

Rifleman 745

Stationed

Ft. Logan, CO, MS, FL, Northern Appenines, Po Valley, Rhineland, France, Italy

Separated

Camp Beale CA

Unit responsibility

Combat Infantry

Personal responsibility

Rifleman, Radio man

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Northern Appennines (after the freeing of 'Lost Battalion'), Champagne Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Distinguished Unit Badge WD GO #34, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Cambat Infantryman Badge

Living conditions

Living conditions were basic. It was very cold, wet in France. sleeping quarters were tents, foxholes and abandoned buildings. There were many sleepless nights due to the shelling, the marches, combat and watches. Meals were rations--had aversion to scrambled eggs and really loved fresh baked bread in Italy. When I had occasion to be on leave, I went skiing in Switzerland and sightseeing to Paris, Florence, etc.

Most vivid memory of military experience

I remember marching up that steep mountain in Italy and looking down, seeing an endless trail of men winding their way up the rocks. When someone fell, all we heard was their canteen because we had to travel in silence and no one dared let out a sound.

Missed most whilst in the military

Family

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

There are many brave men who served in combat during WWII. Those who gave their lives for their country deserve our respect and gratitude. It was a big sacrifice. War is harsh....the cold, the fear, the killing of a fellow human are memories that never goes away.