Gender

Male

Birth date

1921-1-27

Place of birth

HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

, Schofield Barracks HI

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, I Co.

Military specialty

Infantry, combat

Stationed

United States, Italy, France

Separated

Army Separation Center HI

Unit responsibility

Forcefully recover real estate taken over by the Nazi's in Italy and France.

Personal responsibility

Lead my men in combat

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley and Rhineland Campaigns

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Bronze Medal, Purple Heart Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Living conditions

Living conditions were adequate under prevailing conditions during training and in combat. We slept in beds, plowed fields, straw--when available and even on concrete floors. Hot showers were available during combat rest break, but once during a combat relocation break, we were rationed with l gallon (helmet) of water to bathe, brush our teeth and shave. Hot meals, when available, C and K Rations were also available. For entertainment we went sightseeing, enjoyed classical music wherever available, played records and enjoyed going to concerts and opera.

Most vivid memory of military experience

After the first day of battle for the 442nd in Italy, I experienced the most horrid sight of total destruction of the enemy resulting from the flank attack by the 100th Battalion supporting the new 442nd frontal attack. There were miles and miles of burned, charred German soldiers trapped in their vehicles and many dead sprawled along the countryside highway. I never saw a dead person up to this point. Another horrible experience in this same campaign was walking past one of our men who was left dead for several days in 'no man's land' and already eaten away by maggots. I had a lost feeling of what's the sense and who was he--alone, dead in this strange land.

Missed most whilst in the military

Freedom to do or not to do as I pleased.

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

One can do anything even under trying conditions, but with some luck of course. Treat people with respect and they will respectfully respond in kind in most cases. I found this attitude to be true with comrades, prisioners of war and civilians in Italy and France.