Background image consist of multiple portrait of Nikkei with military experience

Japanese American Military Experience Database

Tsutomu "Jumbo" Mochizuki

Gender

Male

Birth date

1919-3-3

Place of birth

Hermosa Beach CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-10-15, Los Angeles CA

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Infantry Regt

Military specialty

Heavy Mortar Crewman

Stationed

Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Riley, KS; Camp Shelby, MS; Italy; France; England

Separated

Ft. MacArthur CA

Unit responsibility

Heavy weapons

Personal responsibility

Lead the men; taught use of mortar fire; binoculars.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

North Appenines; Po Valley; Rhineland

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

American Defense Service Medal; America Campaign Medal; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Purple Heart GO 36 HQ 38th Evac Hosp 45; World War II Victory Medal; (wounded in action in Italy on April 5, 1945); Bronze Star

Living conditions

During battle didn't bathe for the duration of the attack. Meals - lots of 'spam'.

Most vivid memory of military experience

During one attack, a comrade with whom I was fighting said to go another terrace. Just as I left, he got a direct hit.

Missed most whilst in the military

Tsukemono and rice.

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

I saw Europe in its devastation. Saw people starving and in desperation.

Additional information

I was in U.S. uniform but was forced to leave a restaurant in Texas because of a threat from a customer who had animosity against some Japanese people.