ディスカバー・ニッケイ

https://www.discovernikkei.org/ja/resources/military/15713/

Background image consist of multiple portrait of Nikkei with military experience

日系アメリカ人兵役体験記録データベース

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Michael Toshio "Mike" Watanabe

性別
Male
生年月日
1948-9-30
出生地
Honolulu HI, U.S.A.
入隊した年
1967-3-8, Los Angeles CA
入隊のタイプ
Volunteer
所属・部署
Army
兵役のタイプ
War
所属部隊のタイプ
Combat,sup
所属部隊
Walter Reed Army Hospital - Civilian Payroll
4th Infantry Division; Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV)
特殊技能
Finance Specialist (Payroll)
最終目標
Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, DC
Plieku, Vietnam
Saigon, Vietnam
除隊した年
Oakland CA
所属部隊の役割
Administration
所属部隊での個人的役割
Payroll Clerk
主な戦闘(交戦地帯へ従軍した場合)
While serving in Vietnam, I did not physically participate in any major battles. Some individuals I served with in Plieku were wounded or killed while protecting the 4th Division's base camp.
勲章・褒章(個人又は所属部隊)
Vietnam Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Army Commendation Medal - 3 awards for excellence.
生活状況
Washington, DC - Slept in barracks. We had all the stateside amenities and entertainments

Plieku, Vietnam - Lived in barracks or 'hooches'; hot showers when the portable heaters worked or had fuel. We hoped for rain or a quick resupply when no water was available; meals were adequate; entertainment was drinking, cards, reading and an occasional floorshow.

軍隊生活で最も記憶に残っている出来事
I volunteered for an extended tour that took me to Saigon. I did this to keep my older brother from serving in Vietnam. While on pass in Saigon, I was confronted by a drunk Caucasian GI just in from the field still carrying his M-16 rifle. Thinking I was Vietnamese, he loaded a full magazine into his rifle, pointed it at me and was getting ready to shoot. I managed to shout and curse at him and talked him into putting his rifle down. I then made him realize that I too was a GI and I outranked him.
軍隊にいる間、最も懐かしかったもの
I missed my family. I especially missed my dad who died the day I reported to Fort Lewis, WA, just outside of Seattle. His funeral delayed my departure to Vietnam and saved me from seeing action at the tail end of the Viet Cong Tet offensive in 1968. The unit I was assigned to suffered some casualties when the VC attacked the bunker line.
個人的に軍隊経験から学んだ最も重要なこと
I was 19 when I went to Vietnam and it forced me to mature quickly. I came to realize how important my family is to me. Even with the sibling fights and arguments, the love of family made me make a quick decision to extend my tour of duty and prevent the Army from sending my older brother to Vietnam in 1969. He was just finishing his training and ready for his first duty station. The Army sent him to the Panama Canal instead.
その他の情報
I am married to the former Janet S. Fujii and we have been married for 27 years this August 1999.

I graduated from Belmont High School - S'66.

I went to Cal State LA and graduated in S'75 with a BS degree in accounting.

My last place of employment was as Chief Accountant for KABC/KLOS Radio (an ABC, Inc., station that is currently a part of Disney).

Parents: Richard S. and Ethel I. Watanabe.

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