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Japanese American Military Experience Database

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Ralph Hiroshi Nishimi

Gender
Male
Birth date
1929-6-3
Place of birth
Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1952-2-1,
Enlistment type
Draftee
Service branch
Army
Service type
War
Unit type
Support
Units served
1279th Engineer Combat Battalion
Military specialty
Cartographer (Was assigned to this task due to my experience, working 2 summers with the US Geological Service as a draftsman)
Stationed
Ft. Belvoir, VA; Herchst, Germany (near Frankfurt)
Separated
Fort Ord CA
Unit responsibility
Reconnaissance of roadways, bridges and culverts in the area around US-occupied Germany in 1953. (Intelligence section)
Personal responsibility
Drew maps, schematics, etc., of bridges and culverts for possible future demolition information if such was deemed necessary, after personal on-site inspection
Living conditions
Slept in permanent dormitory-like facility with common bathrooms. Meals taken in a mess hall. Entertainment entailed weekend passes into Frankfurt or travel to see surrounding area. Part of my overseas time was spent playing baseball with the battalion team traveling throughout US-occupied Germany
Most vivid memory of military experience
Played baseball with the Battalion team and traveled all over US-occupied Germany for about 4-5 months.
Missed most whilst in the military
Gohan
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