Japanese American Military Experience Database
William Yoshiji Makino
Gender
Male
Birth date
1919-12-15
Place of birth
Long Beach CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1942-2-11, Fort MacArthur CA
Enlistment type
Draftee
Service branch
Army
Service type
War
Unit type
Support
Units served
Asia Pacific Theater
Military specialty
Interpreter Japanese 32D
Stationed
USA: Ft. Mac Arthur, CA; Camp Robinson, AR; Camp Grant, IL; Camp Savage, Ft. Snelling, MN; Ft. Lewis, WA; Honolulu, HI
Other Countries: Saga-shi, Tokyo, Japan; Sasebo, Kita Kyushu, Japan
Other Countries: Saga-shi, Tokyo, Japan; Sasebo, Kita Kyushu, Japan
Separated
Ft. Mac Arthur CA
Unit responsibility
Interpreter, interrogator and translation team.
Personal responsibility
Translation of letters and war documents.
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
WWII Victory Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
WWII Victory Medal
Most vivid memory of military experience
I interpreted for American Army officers at Saga Army Hospital and saw all the radiation casualties from Nagasaki-shi. A horror and shock which is still in my mind.
Missed most whilst in the military
Family
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
To appreciate discipline, teamwork and cooperation. War is hell, especially when you are against your own race.
