Sexo

Male

Fecha de Nacimiento

1917-11-19

Lugar de Nacimiento

Oso Flaco (Guadalupe) CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-4-7, Santa Barbara CA

Tipo de Alistamiento

Draftee

Afiliación Militar

Army

Tipo de servicio prestado

War

Tipo de unidad militar

Combat,sup

Unidades a las que sirvió

7th Surgical Hospital, Ft. Ord, CA
Surgical Technician School, Letterman General Hospital, S.F., CA
Ft. Sheridan Hospital, Ft. Sheridan, IL
Camp Shelby, MS, 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Overseas 442nd RCT, Italy, 3rd Bttn. Hdqtrs. Medics

Especialidad militar

Medical Surgical Technician

Asignado

USA: Ft. MacArthur, CA; Ft. Ord, CA; Letterman General Hospital,San Francisco, CA; Ft. Sheridan, IL; Camp Shelby, MS
Other Countries: Italy; France; Germany; Switzerland

Retirado

Fort Sheridan IL

Responsabilidad en la unidad

To conquer the German Army which occupied France and Italy.

Responsabilidad individual

I was a medic assigned to the 3rd Battalion Aid Station. During combat I was assigned to follow the different companies of the 3rd Battalion and to render first aid to the wounded and then evacuate them to the rear area away from the battlefront to the Battalion Aid Station.

Batallas principales (si sirvió en una zona de guerra)

I was in the battle and liberation of Bruyeres, France, then followed the 442nd RCT in the rescue of the Lost Battalion in the Vosges Mountains where we encountered severe casualties. Our 442nd RCT lost so many men that we were assigned to our so called 'Champagne Campaign' to guard the French-Italian border until we received a new bunch of replacements.

After this, we were sent back to Italy to mop up Germans who were holed up for sometime in the mountains near Massa and Carrara. We fought them fiercely until they finally started to retreat.

Soon after this campaign, the German Army just about gave up, as we moved quickly northward to Genoa and on to Northern Italy where the Germans finally surrendered - the war in Europe was finally over.

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

Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Good Conduct Medal
A few Presidential Unit Citations

Article from the Grand Rapids, MI Press - Titled 'Jap-Yank Hero Cited' tells of his exploits. 'Parents Here Told of Bravery in France'

Single-handed rescue of a wounded soldier in the face of murderous German fire has brought commendation to the son of a Japanese-American family in Grand Rapids, an Army public relations dispatch disclosed Tuesday. Sgt. Mitsusuke Fujimoto, 27, medical aid man with the 6th Army Group in France, whose heroic action was cited, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kikuhei Fujimoto, employed by Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kinsey, Lake Drive Rd, S.E. The parents and a sister, Carol, were informed of the sergeant's commendation by The Press. The action took place in the 7th Army's drive through the Vosges mountains of northeastern France, while the 442nd Japanese-American combat team was slashing its way through to a lost 'Texas' battalion which had been trapped in the woods near Bruyere. A rifleman was severely wounded and Sgt. Fujimoto went forward with a litter Squad. A few yards from the wounded soldier the party encountered fierce German fire from machine guns, rifles and mortars. Ordering his men to take cover, Sgt. Fujimoto advanced alone. Upon reaching the wounded man, the dispatch from the 6th Army Group headquarters recounted, he decided evacuation was necessary. Dragging the wounded soldier behind him, the sergeant slowly crawled back to his litter squad. After rendering first aid, they evacuated the wounded man to the rear. Before going to France Sgt. Fujimoto served with his unit in Italy along with the 34th division in the allied drive north of Rome and across the Arno river. Born Nov. 19, 1917 at Guadalupe, CA, Sgt. Fujimoto was graduated from Santa Barbara High school. He was drafted in April 1941. A brother, Sgt. John Fujimoto, who enlisted in the army in November, 1942, is serving in Australia. Another brother, Hikaru, is in Detroit.

Condiciones de Vida

Slept in fox holes and individual pup tents. Often slept on the ground using G.I. blankets for cover.

During combat there were very few chances to bathe. But occasionally, we were given rest periods which allowed us the opportunity to bathe and clean up pretty good. Sometimes we bathed in rivers as we came across them.

During rest periods we'd get some hot meals with rice, but while in combat we had to be content with 'C' rations (canned food) which was lousy.

We didn't have much time for entertainment. Whenever we did have time, we'd usually have a few drinks and talk.

Recuerdo más vívido de la experiencia militar

I was with the 3rd Battalion Headquarters Medics who adopted a mascot, a little pet dog we named 'Lucy'. Lucy had been a lost, stray dog we found and adopted, then kept with us at the 3rd Battalion Aid Station wherever we traveled on the Battlefront in Italy and France. Lucy kept us all in good spirits throughtout most of the campaign.

Lo que más extraño durante su tiempo en las fuerzas armadas

I missed having a good old bowl of rice with our meals the most. Also, missed the freedom to do as we pleased. Also missed family members.

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

We learned to respect one another, get along with all types of personalities, and made many life long friends.

I would like my family and those close to me to know that we were all afraid before going into the battlefront. The anxiety of thinking what could and may happen to us is what causes the fear, but once in actual combat, we became really cool, enabling us to perform our duties in the most efficient and heroic ways.

Información adicional

While in the service, we bitched about our treatment in the Army, being ordered around, not knowing or understanding why we had to go through so many things. But, after going through the experience and thinking back to those days, I've come to feel that I had a good time, actually the best experiences of my life. I learned so much, made many good observances and also made valuable life long friends along the way.