Gender

Male

Birth date

1921-2-10

Place of birth

Gilroy CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-8-11, Phoenix AR

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

U.S. Army - Armed Forces Western Pacific (from ATIS)

Military specialty

Interpreter; Rifleman

Stationed

USA - Camp Blanding, FL; Ft. Snelling, MN; Philippines; Japan

Separated

Camp Zama, Kanagawa JP

Unit responsibility

Part of U.S. Army Military Police Unit which provided security of Luzon Prisoner War Camp.

Personal responsibility

Interpreter/interrogator

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon; Army of Occupation Ribbon - Japan; Meritorious Service Unit Plaque; Philippine Liberation Ribbon; WWII Victory Medal

Living conditions

In the Philippines - canvas squad tent - outdoor shower - outhouse. Mostly field type meals and not much entertainment except what was provided by the Army Social Service - if time premitted.

Most vivid memory of military experience

16 weeks of Camp Snelling Language School was inadequate for the work that was required in the field (Philippines). The hate of things Japanese transmitted into personal feeling, thus the Japanese prisoner suffered. Also the U.S. Army leader whom I came into contact with felt that I was very qualified and at one point asked me to translate a 'Sosho' writing which was impossible for me, but as ordered I did translate that diary with 'help' - turned out to be Japanese poems!

Missed most whilst in the military

Japanese food

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

That military tells you to do the impossible! Also that my association with the Japanese P.O.W.s saying 'To the victors goes the spoils' was so true. Hate precludes fair and sound judgement.

Additional information

Because of internment - anger and the way we were treated, blocks out memories. I still do not remember how I travelled from Poston, AR to Ft. Douglas, UT (In reporting for military service.)