Japanese American Military Experience Database
Thomas Toru Sasaki
Gender
Male
Birth date
1924-4-2
Place of birth
Walnut Grove CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1943-6-25, Denver CO
Enlistment type
Draftee
Service branch
Army
Service type
War,peacetime
Unit type
Combat,sup
Units served
MISLS (Graduated Savage, July 1943)
XXIV Corps, 306th Hq Intelligence - 319th Military Intelligence
XXIV Corps, 306th Hq Intelligence - 319th Military Intelligence
Military specialty
Military Intelligence
Interpreter 320
Interpreter 320
Stationed
USA: Camp Shelby, MS; Camp Savage, MN; Fort Lawton, WA; Camp Blanding, FL; Schofield Barracks, HI
Other Countries: Leyte, PI; Okinawa, Ryukyu; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo, Japan
Other Countries: Leyte, PI; Okinawa, Ryukyu; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo, Japan
Separated
Fort Lawton WA
Unit responsibility
Gather intelligence, Interrogate POW, Translate documents.
Personal responsibility
Interrogate POW, Translate Documents.
Major battles (if served in a war zone)
Leyte, PI
Southern Philippines GO 33 WD 45
Ryukyus GO 40 WD 45
Southern Philippines GO 33 WD 45
Ryukyus GO 40 WD 45
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 2/Battle Stars, 1 arrowhead
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2/BS
American Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2/BS
American Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Living conditions
Slept in fox holes, pup tents, 4 men tents.
Bathed out of helmets or unit shower stalls.
Ate C-rations, K-rations, and hot meals.
Saw movies for entertainment.
Bathed out of helmets or unit shower stalls.
Ate C-rations, K-rations, and hot meals.
Saw movies for entertainment.
Most vivid memory of military experience
Nothing was humorous about war experiences. One day you see a beautiful hill side, the next morning it was blown apart. Same for towns.
Missed most whilst in the military
Family life. Good food.
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
My personal feeling is that war is hell. I had to do what I had to do, and show my loyalty to the United States.