性別

Male

生年月日

1923-5-1

出生地

Pepeekeo HI, U.S.A.

入隊した年

1943-3-18, Hilo HI

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

所属部隊

Co. K, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

特殊技能

Sniper (Scout) (Infantry Rifle squad)

最終目標

Camp Shelby, Mississippi; Italy; France; Schofield Barracks, Oahu, HI.

除隊した年

Honolulu HI

所属部隊の役割

To represent the US in combat against the Axis Powers in Italy and France.

所属部隊での個人的役割

To prove my loyalty to the US and perform my duties as a sniper and rifleman as well as the acting aquad leader in the rescue of the 36th Division's 'Lost Battalion' in France.

主な戦闘（交戦地帯へ従軍した場合）

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign (battles in Italy and France). All battles in Italy and France, notably the liberation of city of Bruyeres and the rescue of the 36th Division's 141st Regiment.

勲章・褒章（個人又は所属部隊）

SILVER STAR: Destroyed one machine-gun nest and killed 6 German soldiers of which 2 were machine-pistol operators.

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION: for the rescue of the 36th Division's 141st Regiment 'Lost Battalion' in the Vosges Mountains in France.

BRONZE STAR MEDAL with Oak Leaf Cluster based on award of the Combat INFANTRYMAN BADGE.

PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER: Wounded twice, once in Italy and once in France.

GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL: For being good.

AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL: For serving on the mainland US, eg., training in Mississippi, Louisiana, and guarding the Germans captured in Europe and put in stockades in Alabama.

ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL: For serving in Schofield Barracks before shipping out to the mainland US.

EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL: End of victorious war.

Combat INFANTRYMAN BADGE:For combat in Italy and France.

EXPERT MARKSMAN BADGE: Expert sharpshooter's award.

HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTONS - WW II: Honorably discharged in October 1945.

生活状況

Camp Shelby: slept on army cots (12 men in each hut) with two wood-burning stoves (for heat). Had hot and cold showers in bath/latrine building. 3 meals per day were above-average or good. Went to Hattiesburg, Mississippi for swimming, dinners, movies, etc.

軍隊生活で最も記憶に残っている出来事

We pushed the Germans back until we reached the 'Lost battalion' on October 30, 1944. I saw a wounded soldier in a fox hole (4' x 8') partially covered with logs for protection from tree bursts caused by artillery shells. I either hugged him or shook his hand. He emptied his canteen of chocolate, I thought. However, it was muddy water scooped from rain water in the foxhole. I offered him my canteen of water and I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. Maybe he was glad that he was saved, maybe he was glad that I gave him water, or perhaps both. Anyone would have been glad to be saved and those were tears of happiness and gratitude.

軍隊にいる間、最も懐かしかったもの

Friends, classmates, sisters, brothers, and especially Mom and Dad, plus home-cooking.

個人的に軍隊経験から学んだ最も重要なこと

The most important thing is that I was able to volunteer for the 442nd RCT to prove my loyalty to the US. I am grateful to have been able to, in part, make Hawaii a better place to live in, without the stigma attached to us after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941.

その他の情報

Although we (442nd) lost many men who died or were wounded (some more than once) in the battlefields, our sacrifices were destined to be remembered as the most-decorated unit of its size in the US military service. Ours was a close-knit unit that fought with a purpose, that is to fight hard and prove to everyone, our loyalty to the US.