Gender

Male

Birth date

1927-5-18

Place of birth

Sacramento CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1945-11-29, Ft. MacArthur CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Support

Units served

485th Engineer Heavy Shop Co.; ETO, 3rd Army

Military specialty

Electrician

Stationed

Germany, Wahington, California, New Jersey

Separated

Denver CO

Unit responsibility

Overhaul of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, tractors, trucks, etc.

Personal responsibility

Oversee checkout, repair and refurbishment of electrical items related to heavy equipment such as bulldozers, tractors, trucks, etc.. Also plant maintenence.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

None - occupation force

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal

Living conditions

We were billeted in a multi-story building designed for pregnant women for Hitler's War Babies Program. It was a modern facility.

Most vivid memory of military experience

The U.S. Army decreed part of the residential area of Grossauheim near Frankfurt, Germany, for dependant housing. Residents were required to leave within a deadline and leave behind furnishings and furniture. We patrolled these areas to prevent removal of designated items. Shots were fired. One man was killed. I felt bad about what was happening to the people, but I did my job.

Missed most whilst in the military

Family and friends and Japanese food. I was the only Japanese in the military group.

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

I studied hard, learned my job and was promoted to T-4 in less than 9 months.

Additional information

I became seriously ill in Germany, returned to USA in a stretcher and was hospitalized for 6 months.