Sexo

Male

Fecha de Nacimiento

1930-3-24

Lugar de Nacimiento

HI, U.S.A.

Inducted

1951-8-29, Schofield Barracks HI

Tipo de Alistamiento

Volunteer

Afiliación Militar

Army

Tipo de servicio prestado

War,peacetime

Tipo de unidad militar

Combat,sup

Unidades a las que sirvió

40th Infantry Division, Korea ('52-'53)

7th Infantry Division, Korea ('55-'56)

25th Infantry Division, Hawaii ('57-'60)

U.S. ACAN Station, Hawaii ('60-'61)

US STRATCOM Station, Germany ('61-'64)

25th Infantry Division, Vietnam ('66-'67)

HQ US STRATCOM, Hawaii ('67-'70)

60th Signal Battalion, Vietnam ('71-'72)

US Signal Support Agency, Hawaii ('72-'75)

HQ US STRATCOM, AZ ('75-'76)

US Communications Security Activity, AZ ('76-'85)

Especialidad militar

Communications/Electronics Officer

Asignado

Schofield Barracks and Ft. Shafter, HI; Ft. Huachuca, AZ; Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Monmouth, NJ; Omaha, NE; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Achorage, AK; Kumwha, Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Punch Bowl, Camp Casey, KOREA; Cu Chi and Phu Lam, VIETNAM; Korat, THAILAND; Camp Zama, JAPAN; Fort Buckner, OKINAWA; Taipei, TAIWAN; Pirmasens, GERMANY; Leghorn, ITALY; Orleans, FRANCE.

Retirado

Ft. Huachuca AZ

Responsabilidad en la unidad

Plan, install, operate and maintain command and control communications systems for combat and support organizations

Budget, acquire, distribute and provide life-cycle support for cryptographic equipment and codes for the U.S. Army.

Responsabilidad individual

As Communications/Electronics Officer, was responsible for staff planning and supervision of highly trained technicians and the operation and maintanence of fixed station and tactical communications systems.

As Inspector General, HQTRS,US STRATCOM, conducted random and scheduled inspections of major subordinate commands worldwide, and monitored their mission readiness, morale, and compliance with rules and regulations. Also investigated complaints and grievances.

As Commander of US Army Communications Security Activity, was responsible for programming, budgeting, and acquisitions, distributing and providing life-cycle support for all cryptographic equipment and codes used by the U.S. Army. Supervised high level technicians and logisticians.

Batallas principales (si sirvió en una zona de guerra)

In the Korean War, but none considered major.

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

Legion of Merit (2 awards) for exceptional performance as Commander of a fix station signal battalion in Vietnam, and for exceptional performance as Commander of US Army COMSEC Activity responsible for insuring that the communications security equipment needs of the US Army were satisfied.

Bronze Star Medal for establishing an efficient and effective base camp communications system at Cu Chi, Vietnam, as a member of the 25 Infantry Division Advance Party.

Meritorious Service Medals (3 awards) for planning, installing and operating the prototype automated mesage processor at Ft. Shafter, HI and for planning and supervising the transfer of the military cable and telephone system in HI, to commercial operation, and for fielding and supporting critical cryptographic equipment and codes on very short notice, for classified military operations

Combat Infantryman's Badge for service in Korea.

Condiciones de Vida

KOREA - Slept in bunkers or tents during my first tour ('52-'53). Cots, blankets and sleeping bags were provided when applicable. Winter, for Hawaiians, was difficult because of first time exposure to snow and sub-zero temperatures. Oil- burning stoves provided heat when fuel was available. Also made coffee, cooked eggs, 'C' rations, and even rice and chestnuts, when we could find them, on these stoves. Considering that we were in a combat zone, the food was acceptable. Bathing facilities were seldom available for men assigned to battalion and company level. Shower points were normally located near the regimental headquarters areas, miles from the front lines. The R&R program to Japan provided much needed rest and relaxation. Saw a lot of Tokyo during my five days in Japan. Ginza, in 1952 was still a tent city. Beer was great.

Second Korean tour during '55-'56; War was over and living conditions had improved, not radically, but a lot better than during my previous tour. My change of status to an officer brought differences not only in living facilities, but in other areas as well. Our tents were slowly replaced by more permanent quonset huts. Beds with springs and mattresses were replacing canvas cots. Fuel for stoves were plentiful and warm building were the norm, unless your Korean 'house-boy' forgot to have the fuel tank filled when the delivery truck came by. Food was better at the officer's mess. In exchange for better facilities and food, I was assigned greater responsibilities.

VIETNAM ('66-'67); Unlike Korea, there were no front lines. Combat troops lived in base camps while the enemy(Viet Cong) lived anywhere. Combat units arriving in Vietnam were well-trained and equipped. Living conditions and food were a lot better than in Korea. Combat soldiers lived in semi-permanent base camps, and had hot meals, showers, medical facilities, PX privileges, and other morale and welfare care. The R&R program permitted soldiers to meet families in Hawaii.

Recuerdo más vívido de la experiencia militar

There are many vivid memories of my 30 plus years in the military. However, while preparing this background information, I remembered the frustrations experienced by Japanese-American soldiers during the Korean War and their clothing. Whenever dirty combat fatigues, underwear, and socks were turned-in for clean ones, the mostly smallish Japanese-American soldiers would almost invariably receive, in exchange, unintentionallly, clothes that were several sizes too large. Conversely, some of the Caucasian soldiers would receive fatigues and socks that they could hardly get into.