Gender

Male

Birth date

1925-10-1

Place of birth

Seattle WA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1950-9-1, Seattle WA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Support

Units served

Basic Training, Fort Ord, CA
Military Intelligence Group (NYK Building) - Tokyo, Japan
Advanced Mililtary Intelligence Services Group (MISG), Tongnae, Korea

Military specialty

Japanese language instructor at Army Language School, Presidio of Monterey;
Interrogator with Advanced MISG in Korea

Stationed

USA: Fort Ord, CA; Presidio of Monterey, CA
Other Countries: Tokyo, Japan; Tongnae, Korea

Separated

Camp Stoneman CA

Unit responsibility

Interrogate Chinese and Korean POWs for strategic intelligence information.

Personal responsibility

Interrogation. I remember some of the prisoners being hard core communists (North Koreans as well as Chinese soldiers). They were tough and never cooperated with the interrogations. We mainly interrogated the former Nationalist Chinese soldiers of Chiang Kai Shek's army.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Korea

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Presidential Unit Citation; Ltr AG 200.62 HQ FEC 3 March 1952

Living conditions

We were billeted in a former hot spring resort facility and well removed from the front line fighting activities and away from bullet dodging. I'd say we had quite a comfortable assignment.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Remember having a Nisei Mess Sergeant, who used to make frequent trips to Tokyo to purchase rice, soy sauce, tsukemono, etc. and served us Japanese meals for dinner. (Chipped in a few bucks for the expense.)

Additional information

At 9 years of age, I went to Kure, Hiroshima-Ken, Japan to be raised and complete my high school education and Japanese Merchant Marine College. I got caught in Japan during Word War II and returned to Seattle, WA in February 1950.

While attending Edison Technical School, I was drafted into the Army and shipped to Fort Ord for basic training. Due to my proficiency in the Japanese language, I was assigned as Japanese language instructor at the Army Language School in Presidio of Monterey, Ca.

After my dischage, I returned home to Seattle and continued my education by attending the University of Washington, and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1957 and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. Subsequently I worked as a Research Engineer for the Boeing Aircraft Company continuosly for the next 34 years. I am presently retired and enjoying a good life with my wife and 3 children.

The following men served in Korea with me: Albert Akiyama, Sacramento CA; Mitsuo Kato, Los Angeles, CA; Asao Kitami, Gardena, CA; Wally Tsukamoto, Honolulu, HI; Mike Kubo, Seattle, WA.