ディスカバー・ニッケイ

https://www.discovernikkei.org/ja/resources/military/253/

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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Yeiichi "Kelly" Kuwayama

性別
Male
生年月日
1918-6-1
出生地
New York City NY, U.S.A.
入隊した年
, New York City NY
入隊のタイプ
Draftee
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
248th Coast Artillery

Co. B or C 66th Ordnance Battalion

Ft. Ethan Allen, Station Hospital

442nd RCT, Co. E.

特殊技能
Medical, Surgical Tech
最終目標
New Jersey, New York, ,Vermont, Mississippi,USA; Italy; France.
除隊した年
Ft. Dix NJ
所属部隊の役割
248th Coast Artillery - N.Y. Harbor Defense

Ordnance Battalion - Purchase automobile parts & repair

Ft. Ethan Allen Station Hospital - Maintain operating room at station hospital

442nd RCT - Infantry battalion.

所属部隊での個人的役割
Combat medic in infantry rifle company, Co. E, of 442nd Regimental Combat Team, also operating room technician, purchase clerk, etc.
主な戦闘(交戦地帯へ従軍した場合)
Participated in all battles where E Company was engaged except for one month after I was wounded at Bruyeres, France. I rejoined E Company at Sospel, Southern France. Inlcuded Italy & France; Bruyeres - Biffontaine. Our mission was to maintain pressure on the Germans in Italy and to take the high ground. It was day after day of combat.
勲章・褒章(個人又は所属部隊)
Purple Heart; Silver Star; Croce di Valore (Italian); others. Unit: 442nd RCT won many awards & citations. They are part of historical record.
生活状況
In combat, where most rifle platoons were, sleep was in fox holes, to do otherwise would be too dangerous. Bathing in a so-called stable situation, were truck showers (go in one end, take your clothes off, get new clothes at the other end, size of clothing did not matter, and that was it.) Showers like this were once a week in stable areas. Otherwise, bathe with a helmet of water. Food was K rations, sometimes C rations. In Italy, in combat situations, which were fairly constant, field kitchens were not available to rifle platoons and entertainment was not available to rifle platoons - mainly you kept alert.
軍隊生活で最も記憶に残っている出来事
Soldiers killed or wounded were quite often and always serious. Conversation was limited since we kept five foot distances. In training or in the States I kept getting transferred so I did not make that many close associations. I did stay and work in Ft. Ethan Allen, VT. for more than a year and I got to know Sgt. Rupert White, who later became a Lieutenant, and Pvt. Franz Robinow, quite well. Both were killed within a few weeks when they invaded Normandie.

Vivid memory of human degradation - children pimping for mothers, etc., children at the end of chow lines (when we were able to get to a chow line)staring us in the face to get anything left over.

軍隊にいる間、最も懐かしかったもの
In combat, the feeling of being safe - otherwise family. If you are in a safe area overseas - family and food.
個人的に軍隊経験から学んだ最も重要なこと
Trust in our fellow human beings. The importance of water and food and a safe sleeping place. The realization that actual visual combat with the enemy was done by few in a combat situation on a day to day basis and combat was fairly steady day by day - not big battles. A casualty here a casualty there.
その他の情報
1). Getting to know men from various backgrounds and geographic locations and to realize how trustworthy and fine they were.

2). I got my nickname 'Kelly' from 1st Sgt Tenney of the 66th Ordnance Battalion.

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