Gender

Male

Birth date

1914-8-18

Place of birth

Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-10-22, Redlands CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

Co. B, 100th Inf. Bn., 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Military specialty

Platoon Sergeant 745

Stationed

USA - Camp Roberts, Fort Ord, CA; Fort Levenworth, KS; Camp Crowder, MO; Camp Hale, CO; Fort McClellan, AL; Camp Shelby, MS; Ft. Meade, MD

Italy; France

Separated

Fort Bliss TX

Unit responsibility

Infantry

Personal responsibility

Special services

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno; No. Apennines; Po Valley; Ardennes and Rhineland.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Distinguished Unit Badge - Bruyeres and rescue of 'Lost Battalion of the 36th Division'

Distinguished Unit Badge - Assault on the Gustoff Line 5 April 1945

American Theater; European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbons

Good Conduct Medal; Victory Medal; Purple Heart; Hq 171st Evac Hosp. 20 Apr. 1945

Living conditions

In France, it rained most of the time. We slept in slit trench covered with your shelter-half to keep the elements out. Our meal were 'K' ration or 'C: ration in tin cans. 'K' ration were in cardboard boxes. Tore the cardboard box and burned it to heat the water and can goods for lunch or dinner. Took Portuguese bath by heating water in your helmet and wiping yourself with a wash rag - afterwards you wash & clean your socks and pin them inside of your field jacket to dry.

Most vivid memory of military experience

I witnessed Sinclair Lewis's son get killed. The 100th scout had just made contact with the Germans and we dug in to wait till morning before attacking to rescue the Lost Battalion. Next day, General Dahlquist came up to my position and asked when I had dug my hole - I said, 'Yesterday, around noon.' The General's aide was a brand new 2nd Lt. from O.C.S. and at least 6' tall. General told the scout to advance about 4 or 5 times. Finally the scout got up and dove for a tree and the Germans opened with automatic weapons. The whole front opened up and machine gun fire came up the hill and struck Lt. Lewis on his head. I found out later that he was Sinclair Lewis' son. His uniform was brand new and he stood out like a sore thumb. The next day, company 'B' started to advance and rescue the Lost Battalion in about 5 days. When the enemy opened up and fired their weapons they revealed their potitions and we neutralized them during the night.

Missed most whilst in the military

Japanese food such as tsukemono and rice.

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

The best thing was that I was able to travel around the country and see the world. It also made a man out of you! To be able to work independently and not to rely on anyone for help.