Gender

Male

Birth date

1926-6-2

Place of birth

Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1946-9-23, Los Angeles CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

Peacetime

Unit type

Combat

Units served

519th MI Bn; 441st CIC Det; 500th MI Gp; 502nd MI Bn; TM15 MACV; USARPACINTS, 525th MI Gp.

Military specialty

Military Intelligence

Stationed

Ft. Lewis; Ft. Bragg; Ft. Holabird, Japan; Okinawa; Korea; Vietnam

Separated

Presidio of San Franciso CA

Unit responsibility

Various

Personal responsibility

Staff & Command.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Vietnam - 2 Battle Stars ; Ops Mead River

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Combat Infantryman Badge
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star

Living conditions

Slept in everything from Presidential Palace, whore house, pup tent, to fox-holes
Ate combat rations, wild pig, steak/lobsters, sushi, etc.
Combat USO Shows for entertainment

Most vivid memory of military experience

May 2, 1969: Jeep shot out from under me.
June 2, 1969: Shot down in helicopter.
During time I was in Korea, my family was a harrassed by Anti-War Groups (hate mail and graffiti on house).

Missed most whilst in the military

Too much time away from family.

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

Discipline & respect.

Additional information

World events pretty well dictated my career; first drafted out of college; after WWII volunteered for occupantion duty in Japan; then Korean War froze me in Military; recalled to active duty during Cuban crisis; again frozen in for Vietnam War.
Retired in 12/1971 with 25 years of service.

MIN TAKIMOTO RETIRES AS FAA ADMINISTRATOR
The Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, announced the retirement of Min Takimoto, manager of the Civil Aviation Security field office, Los Angeles, effective June 3, 1988.

Takimoto began his 43 years of federal service when he was drafted into the US Army at the end of World War II. He served in the Military Intelligence Service where he advanced to the rank of Lt. Col.

Among the awards he has received are the Combat Infantryman Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star.

Takimoto joined the FAA in July 1972 and has served in both the field and in the regional headquarters. Takimoto is a licensed private pilot.

Takimoto, at the time of retirement, was the highest ranking Nisei in the FAA's anti-hijack/terrorist program.

Takimoto and his wife, Atsuko, who is a fashion designer and former owner-manager of a sportswear manufacturing company, reside in Fountain Valley. They plan to remain in Orange County to be near their two married daughters, Nami and Nora, and their three grandchildren. (June 1988, Rafu Shimpo)