Gender

Male

Birth date

1918-4-28

Place of birth

Del Rey CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-7-18, Sacramento CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Support

Units served

U.S. Medical Corps
69th Infantry Div.
ATIS
JSO

Military specialty

Translator, Interrogator, Interpreter
Medical Corps
Infantry
Military Intelligence

Stationed

U.S.A., Australia, New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Korea

Unit responsibility

To translate and analyze captured enemy documents, interrogate P.O.W.'s and interpret.

Personal responsibility

Translation of captured enemy documents.
Interrogation of P.O.W.'s
Interpreting during conferences held between our officials and the Japanese representatives in the early stages of our occupation duties in Japan.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

New Guinea Campaign
Luzon Campaign
Korean Conflict.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

American Defense Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Medal w/2 Battle Stars
Philippines Liberation Medal
Good ConductMedal
Korean Service Medal
United Nation Service Medal
W.W.II Victory Medal

Living conditions

We slept in the field tents after clearing parts of the jungle.
Our rations consisted of dehydrated potatoes, hard biscuits, powdered eggs, powdered milk, K and C rations. Drank treated water, managed to scrounge some tropical fruits with the help of some natives. At times we were treated to rations left behind by enemy soldiers. Because of the high humidity in the jungles, our appetites were low and consequently most of us lost weight-anywhere between 20 to 30 pounds.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Since I was assigned as a personal interpreter to Gen. Richard J. Marshall, who succeded Gen. Sutherland as the Chief of Staff to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, I had opportunities to meet many Japanese dignitaries, and I was asked to do the interpreting during such meetings. One of which involved the mediation of the two most powerful Japanese Labor Party leaders, Kanji Kato and Komakichi Matsuoka. They were also the leaders of the left and right under the Socialist Party.

We succeeded in the mediation work and later I was asked to attend and observe the first Japan's Labor Conference held in Hibiya, Tokyo for the Allied Headquarters.

On another occasion, I took part in the liquidation process of Japan's financial giants, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo.

Missed most whilst in the military

It is needless to say, I missed my home, family members, and my favorite homemade dishes.

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

By serving and sacrificing my time in the Army, I felt strongly that we earned the right to be first class citizens of this country in all respects. Our families and children should be proud to be Nikkei Americans.

Additional information

Unlike those members of the 442nd Combat Regiment and the 100th Bn., we MISers required extra mental and emotional fortitude to fight against our cousins, and other relatives. This was an additional burden to us.

Originally discharged on 1/30/1946. Recalled to Korean war and again discharged on 1/30/1954.