Japanese American Military Experience Database
George Kiyoshi Tabata
Gender
Male
Birth date
1931-6-23
Place of birth
Long Beach CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1952-2-15, Cleveland OH
Enlistment type
Draftee
Service branch
Army
Service type
War
Unit type
Combat
Units served
'G' Company, 19th Regiment, 24th Division, 3rd Platoon
'C' Company, 9th Regiment, 2nd Division
'C' Company, 9th Regiment, 2nd Division
Military specialty
Light Infantry - Rifleman (MOS 1745)
Stationed
USA: Schofield Barracks, HI(basic training); Camp Atterbury, IN (honorable discharge).
Other Countries: Japan, Korea
Other Countries: Japan, Korea
Separated
Camp Atterbury IN
Unit responsibility
Provide light infantry combat support during the Korean conflict to the multi-national UN Force.
Personal responsibility
Initially as a rifleman in a rifle squad; then squad leader; and finally as platoon sergeant of a rifle platoon.
Major battles (if served in a war zone)
Heartbreak sector.
T-bone/Pork chop sector.
Nori/M-1 Hill sector.
Gibraltar/ 4 Apostles sector.
1062 Papa-san/Iron triangle sector;
Boomerang sector.
T-bone/Pork chop sector.
Nori/M-1 Hill sector.
Gibraltar/ 4 Apostles sector.
1062 Papa-san/Iron triangle sector;
Boomerang sector.
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
Combat Infantryman badge
UN Service medal
Korean Service medal with 2 Bronze Stars
National Defense Service medal
Wharang medal (from Korean government)
U.S. Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
UN Service medal
Korean Service medal with 2 Bronze Stars
National Defense Service medal
Wharang medal (from Korean government)
U.S. Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Living conditions
'On-line':
Slept in man-made sand-bag bunkers or in 'open' fighting positions.
Bathed very little except for 'wipe-downs' with damp cloth. Water was always a critical commodity.
Meals were basically C-rations. Hot meals very periodic and seldom.
Entertainment was sitting around and talking with your fellow squad members.
Slept whenever possible.
Slept in man-made sand-bag bunkers or in 'open' fighting positions.
Bathed very little except for 'wipe-downs' with damp cloth. Water was always a critical commodity.
Meals were basically C-rations. Hot meals very periodic and seldom.
Entertainment was sitting around and talking with your fellow squad members.
Slept whenever possible.
Most vivid memory of military experience
First combat engagement.
Bidding farewell to fallen comrades.
Saying goodbye to the guys when my rotation time came to go home (it was like leaving your family).
Bidding farewell to fallen comrades.
Saying goodbye to the guys when my rotation time came to go home (it was like leaving your family).
Missed most whilst in the military
Family especially - but also unregimented personal free time - which very seldom occurs in military life.
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
Becoming more self-reliant and able to take care of one's self.
Having faced adversity and having prevailed through it all.
Also the opportunity to go to college on the Korean Vereran's Educational Bill.
Having faced adversity and having prevailed through it all.
Also the opportunity to go to college on the Korean Vereran's Educational Bill.
Additional information
I feel that the Japanese Americans who fought in the Korean conflict, upheld to the utmost, those fighting traditions established by our brothers, uncles and cousins who fought in WW II.
George Tabata passed away on April 9, 2000 in Gardena, CA.
