Sexo

Male

Fecha de Nacimiento

1928-3-2

Lugar de Nacimiento

Lihue, Kauai HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1951-6-1, San Francisco CA

Tipo de Alistamiento

Volunteer

Afiliación Militar

Usaf

Tipo de servicio prestado

War

Tipo de unidad militar

Combat

Unidades a las que sirvió

6-8/1951: Basic Training, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX - Private

8-10/1951: Technical Training School, Francis E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY - Private First Class

100/1951-9/1952 Administrative Clerk, George AFB, Victorville, CA - Corporal

9/1952-3/1953: Officer Candidate School, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX - Staff Sergeant

3-5/1953: Supply Officer's School, Fancis E. Warren AFB, WY - 2nd Lt.

5/1953-12/1954:Strategic Ari Command, 3rd Bomb Wing, Mt. Home AFB, Mt. Home, ID - 1st Lt.

12/1954-1/1955: Nuclear Special Weapons, Strategic Air Command, Nouasseur Air Depot, Casablanca, North Africa (French Morrocco)

1/1955-4/1955: Student Pilot, Flight Training School, Marana Air Base, Yuma, AZ

4/1955-11/1958: Commander and Supply Officer, Air Training Command, Parks AFB, Pleasanton, CA

11/1958-6/1960: Ass't Director of Materiel, Continental Air Command, Air Force Reserve Training Center, Long Beach Municipal Airport, CA - Capt

6/1960-12/1967: Chief Command Equipment Review Board, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam, AFB, Honolulu, HI - Major

12/1967-9/1968 Director of Materiel, Special Operations Wing, NhaTrang AFB, Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam

9/1968-6/1972:Chief of Supply and Director of Materiel, Tactical Fighter Wing, Misawa Air BAse, Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, Northern Honshu, Japan - Lt. Col

6/1972-7/1973:Inspector General, Office Inspection Team, _Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Honolulu, HI

Especialidad militar

Materiel & Logistics Officer

Asignado

Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; Francis E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY; George AFB, Victorville, CA; Mt. Home AFB, Mt. Home, ID; Nouasseur Air Deport, Casablanca, N. Africa; Marana Air Base, Yuma AZ; Parks AFB; Pleasanton, CA; Air Force Reserve Training Center, Long Beach, CA; Hickam AFB, Honolulu , HI; Nha Trang AFB, Nha Trang Republic of Vietnam; Misawa Air Base, Misawa City, Aomori, Japan;

Retirado

Hickam AFB HI

Responsabilidad en la unidad

Twofold: Commander of a Squadron and Chief of Supply Operations and Services, and Commander of 460 military, civilian and local (Japanese) nationals at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Responsabilidad individual

To asure that our tactical and defense units were operationally ready at least 80% of the time.

Batallas principales (si sirvió en una zona de guerra)

Republic of Vietnam, special operations wing, reconnaissance, photographic, defoliant (agent orange) and air interdiction. 'Puff the Magic Dragon' AC130 was supported by my organization, 14th Supply Sr. We directly supported air operations with ammunition, agent orange, gloves, cameras, parachutes, survival equipment, food and weapons.

Reconocimientos, medallas, menciones (individuales o de la unidad)

Expert and Sharpshooter Marksmen badges for carbine rifle and .45 caliber pistol; Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (Medal is only for enlisted men); Outstanding US Air Force Supply Officer, eight out of ten years; South East Asia Military Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars; Air Force Longevity Service Award w/4 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal w/ Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Republic of Vietnam Combat Service Medal; Air Force Bronze Star Medal; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal w/1 Bronze Star; Air Force Commendation Medal.

Condiciones de Vida

With my combat pay allowance, I rented a villa, hired a maid, a guard and shared the cost with 4 other officers. It was a beach house long vacated by the French. Protection was provided by Korean, Vietnamese and U.S. military ground forces. This villa was one block from the beach in Nha Trang City. We had running water, electricity, sewer, garbage service, but they were not always reliable. We did sleep in beds, had closets and adequate furniture. I was issued a Ford Bronco due to my rank and commuted to work daily, 8 miles one way. I always had a .38 cal. pistol strapped to my waist.

Recuerdo más vívido de la experiencia militar

We were flying from Clark Air Base in the Philippines to Wake Island on a C118, a 4-engine propellor airplane. We encountered a thunderstorm at 10,000-ft., which was so severe that we dropped 2,000-ft. in the vacuum caused by lightning. All the cockpit instuments went crazy and the red lights came on. At 7 or 8,000 ft., we regained control. On landing at Wake Island, I saw a hole through one of the flaps which was burned by a lightning bolt. If lightning had struck fuel tank, I would not be alive today. It was a very close call indeed.

Lo que más extraño durante su tiempo en las fuerzas armadas

Rice, noodles, takuan, Japanese foods in general. I tolerated bread, potatoes, hash, scrambled eggs, bacon, etc., but I sure missed shoyu, miso and tsukemono.

¿En lo personal, qué obtuvo de su experiencia militar?

My experience was only an extension of what the l00th and 442nd had accomplished. I was in the military to show that we were loyal, trustworthy, diligent, honest and fair. When Martin Luther King was assisinated in 1968, I was the Race Relations Officer. As I was neither black or white, my views were respected as I tried to cement and ameliorate tensions caused by racial and other prejudices.

Información adicional

The JANM is a symbol of JA's in our country. The refurbished Higashi Hongwanji is s reminder of our ancestral religious beliefs for peace, equality and harmony among people. I have great respect for those who conceived the idea of having a JANM. We need to not only tell our story, but let others know that we can all live together in peace. I tried to do that during my 20 years in the Air Force and now try to instill in my Sansei children, the importance of working together in peace and harmony.

Lt. Col. James Ohashi has also written several essays which are available for perusal. Please ask the librarian. They are:

My Korean War Experience June 1951-March 1953,

Conscience and The Constitution, dated November 3, 2000

Racial Segregation in Military Training Camp

Youngest AJA Nisei Squadron Commander, Parks Air Force Base, Pleasanton, CA 1956-1958

1968 Viet Cong Communist Tet Offensive

Deactivation of 475th Tactical Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Force Base, Aomori, Japan, 1971

AJA Nisei Assumes Command of Chitose Air Force Base, Chitose, Hokkaido, Northern Japan, 1970-1972

Commander in Chief Pacific (CinPac), Camp Smith, Halawa, Hawaii, June 1972.