Gender

Male

Birth date

1919-12-8

Place of birth

Makaweli, Kauai HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-12-23,

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

Co. I, 299th Infantry Regiment; 100th Battalion

Military specialty

Infantry

Stationed

Barking Sands, Kauai; Schofield Barracks, Camp McCoy, WI; Camp Shelby, MS; Fort Banning GA; Italy, France

Unit responsibility

Combat Infantry

Personal responsibility

Initially, I was a platoon commander; then Company Executive Officer; then Company Commander

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Volturno River crossings, Cassino, Anzio, Belvedere, Arno River, Voges Mts. vicinity , Brucares and Biffontaine, France

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

PERSONAL:
Purple Heart w/cluster
Bronze Star.

UNIT:
Distinguished Unit Citation
(1) Battle of Belvedere, Italy. My Co. 'B', 100th Bn. was the lead company which engaged the enemy and resulted in destruction of enemy personnel (2 captured), equipment and withdrawal from outreached positions.
(2) Battle of Bruyeres--capture of Hill A and town of Biffontaine.

Living conditions

On the battlefront, living conditions were primitive. We slept in slit trenches when possible or in houses when available and safe.
Bathing was when and if possible by using cold water to wipe ourselves. In rear areas, showers were sometimes available.
Meals were 'C' rations while on the front, especially in moving situations. When front was temporarily stable, hot food was brought up from rear kitchen areas.
Entertainment was non-existent except for reading materials when available.

Most vivid memory of military experience

When Co. 'B', 100th Bn. was ordered to attack in broad daylight, enemy held positions on the outskirts of Cassino, Italy. Our troops were outmanned and outgunned by the enemy as we proceeded across open flat terrain which was previously flooded by them. When we reached our first phase line which was a wall, only 11 men and 3 officers reached the stone wall. The rest of our men were killed or wounded in the flats we had to cross. I cannot ever forget that battle.

Missed most whilst in the military

My family, parents, brothers and sisters

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

War is terrible and should forever be prevented.
Men can undergo unnecessary hardships to survive.

Additional information

After the war, I remained in the army reserve and attained the rank of colonel. During the reserve period, I commanded the 322nd Civil Affairs Group and later the 9th Army Corps Augmentation Unit. Both units are stationed at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.