Gender

Male

Birth date

1913-3-21

Place of birth

Waianae, Oahu HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-3-25, Schofield Barracks HI

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, Combat Engineers 232nd Engineers

Military specialty

Carpenter

Stationed

USA - Camp Shelby, MS
Europe - Italy, France

Separated

Ft Shafter HI

Unit responsibility

Support 442nd RCT

Personal responsibility

Repair bridges and build bridges.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno Campaign
No. Appennines Campaign
Po Valley Campaign.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Purple Heart w/cluster
American Campaign Service Medal
Asiatic Pacific Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Distinguished Unit Badge
World War II Victory Medal.

Living conditions

I slept in a pup tent.
Sometimes the 232nd Engineers had baths provided by the battalion.
Horrible 'K' rations in front line action. But usually our chef did a fine job. Hot foods.
Drinking beer playing cards for entertainment.

Most vivid memory of military experience

One of our primary jobs was clearing mines so the road would be safe to pass. On one occasion, it seems humorous now, but at the time it was a very serious matter. Two of us were assigned to clear the road to where the Lost Battalion (36th Div.) was located. As we started, nearby the infantry was digging in. The infantry boys looked at us and said, 'Boy, am I glad to be in the infantry'. (They didn't know it but, I would rather be an engineer.)

Look at us two, clearing the road exposed to enemy fire, while they were in fox-holes. We kept doing our thing perhaps a mile or so. When we realized there was no one around, front or back, we stopped to wait for the rest of our guys to catch up. We waited in a German fox-hole over an hour. When our sergeant finally came by, did he scold us for being stupid! My buddy's name is omitted for reasons I am sad to say Stupid.

Our infantry rescued the Lost Battalion the next day.

Missed most whilst in the military

Mother's tsukemono.

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

War is terrible! Will not recommend to fight in a war. I was scared anytime while in the front I am glad to survive the war. Only good thing to happend was a great comaraderie experience. We do not like to talk of fighting. But our friendship has and is the best thing to happen in my lifetime. I cherish my buddies a lot.

Additional information

I feel whatever we did will not be in vain.