Gender

Male

Birth date

1943-7-16

Place of birth

Hilo HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1965-6-1, Commissioning - Honolulu HI

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

Peacetime

Unit type

Combat

Units served

Various TOE and TDA organizations

Military specialty

Medical Service Corps Officer

Stationed

USA: Texas, Alabama, California, Hawaii
Other Countries: Korea (two tours); Vietnam (two tours); Panama

Separated

Honolulu HI

Unit responsibility

Various levels and kinds of medical support. Field, hospitals, contingencies (strategic, tactical and disasters), etc.

Personal responsibility

Medical administration and leadership at various levels in field medical organizations, aeromedical evacuation helicopter pilot, medical planner, hospital administrator.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Vietnam (2 tours)

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Legion of Merit - Awarded to almost all senior personnel upon retirement
Distinguished Flying Cross - Vietnam action
Bronze Star (2) - Vietnam Service
Air Medal (35) - Aerial operation in Vietnam
Meritorious Service Medal (5) - Service
Army Commendation Medal - Service
Other medals awarded to everybody at a particular place at a particular time.

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

Enrichment of my life experiences difficult to articulate and difficult to comprehend by those who have not been exposed.

Additional information

Despite what some might say (Bruce Yamashita being the most notorious), I didn't feel that I encountered institutional prejudices against me because of my ancestry. What setbacks I did experience was due mostly to my personality and not my ancestry.

I tended to be abrasive at times to my peers and superiors, a reluctant participant in social activities, when I did participate (important for an officer), and loathe to play politics.

Despite these shortcomings, I managed to be promoted to the grade of Colonel (0-6) which in my branch of the Army (Medical Service Corps) is considered to be quite successful since this branch is authorized only one general officer position (Brigadier General, 0-7).