Gender

Male

Birth date

1919-9-18

Place of birth

Baldwin Park CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-3-12, Ft. MacArthur CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Support

Units served

3rd Medical Battalion, Ft. Lewis, WA
Station Hospital, Camp Roberts, CA
Station Hospital, Camp Crowder, MO
Madigan General Hospital, Ft. Lewis, WA

Military specialty

#861 - Surgical Technician

Stationed

USA:
Ft. Lewis, WA
Camp Roberts, CA
Camp Crowder, MO
Ft. Lewis, WA

Separated

Ft. Lewis WA

Unit responsibility

Give medical aid to patients.

Personal responsibility

Assist surgeons during surgical operation in operating room.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Pre-Pearl Harbor Medal
Good Conduct Medal

Living conditions

Slept in regular barracks - shower bath.
Meals in hospital were excellent, can't complain.
Every military post had theaters strategically scattered throughout the base.
We were allowed to come and go as we pleased with passes from the orderly room.

Most vivid memory of military experience

My first day as a hospital orderly, I was asked to give nose drops to a patient lying on his back. I accidentally dropped it in his eyes. It was an accident.

Missed most whilst in the military

Some rice, but it wasn't unbearable. I went 57 mo.s without it. It was no big deal with me.

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

Being just 21 - it taught us to be independent, on your own. It made us grow up to be a man. Learn how to get along with others - respect your officer - obey orders.

Additional information

Being Japanese, we were self conscious, quiet, obedient. But when we became cpls and sgts, we got up and shouted orders to lower rank enlisted men. From boys we became men.