Sexo

Male

Birth date

1917-5-8

Local de nascimento

Turlock CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-6-2, Fort McArthur CA

Tipo de alistamento

Draftee

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat,sup

Unidades onde serviu

MISLS (Graduated Presidio Nov. 1941)
Americal Division, COMSOPAC, US Marines, US Navy, US Air Force

Military specialty

Translator, Interrogator

Stationed

USA: Camp Roberts, CA; Fort Ord, CA; 4th Army Intelligence School, Presidio of San Francisco, CA.
Other countries: Noumea, New Caledonia; Fiji; Bougainville; Philippines (Leyte, Cebu)

Separated

Fort Douglas UT

Unit responsibility

Counterintelligence work against the enemy (Japan) to win WW II.

Personal responsibility

Translate Japanese documents to English.
Interrogate P.O.W.s for tactical information.
Listen to Tokyo Rose propaganda and disseminate translation to American and Allied troops.
Always be ready to be assigned to any duties with any unit in any area of combat with the Japanese enemy forces.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Guadacanal Campaign; Bougainville Campaign; Leyte and Cebu, Philippines Campaign.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Letters of Commendation from Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, Lt. Gen. M.F. Harmon.
Presidential Unit Citation (MIS) for distinguished and meritorious services in the performance of unique and secret duties in combat and military service.
Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Leyte, Philippines from 2/2/1945 to 3/12/1945, from Maj. Gen. Arnold.
Legion of Merit for meritorious service from 6/1942 to 10/1945.

Living conditions

Living conditions overseas were very rough and primitive. Fortunately, what I learned in basic training, upon being drafted, came in very handy and was vital to survival. I slept on the open ground when there was no enemy around, but dug a shallow fox-hole in front-line fighting. Ususally in the combat zone, I was so tired I just plopped on the ground and fell asleep.

I used water from my canteen to brush my teeth and used the balance for washing and bathing.

During combat, I ate canned pork and beans and hard tack. The hard candy that came with canned hard tack was very good. When I was assigned to the rear echelon unit, I ate cooked dehydrated eggs, potatoes (mashed), canned fruit cocktail and coffee. I came to love dehydrated mashed potatoes, powdered eggs and instant coffee by the time I had served overseas for 3-1/2 years.

Most vivid memory of military experience

I had to interrogate a young Japanese sailor POW, about 14 years old. He stood up erect and began to tell me what he thought about Churchill, Roosevelt and Hirohito. He pointed his finger at my knees and said Churchill; then pointed at my navel and said Roosevelt; then getting up as high as he could on his toes, and pointing to the sky, he screamed 'Tennoheika, Banzai' and quietly sat down to be interrogated.

Missed most whilst in the military

My family and friends.
Being unable to attend medical school to continue my studies in medicine.
Being unable to be with my family when they were interned and when they were picked up by the Army.
Being unable to be with my buddy and friend when he was picked up by the FBI, when attending Army Military Intelligence School in Presidio.
The men at the 4th Army Intelligence School.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

I grew up in Phoeniz, AZ, where only a few Japanese families lived. The families were located far apart and the only time we kids got together was on Sunday when we attended Buddhist Church or on Saturday when we attended Japanese School to learn to read and write.

When I got drafted and went to Army school to learn Japanese, I met Japansese speaking Kibeis and Niseis. I had a hard time trying to get acquainted with them and associating with them. Somehow I managed to graduate from this MIS school, held at the Presidio of San Francisco.

I was immediately assigned to overseas duty with five Kibei and Nisei GIs. I served 3-1/2 years with them and learned to survive with them and enjoy their company.

Additional information

My education in Japanese language in the Army came in handy in making my living after discharge. Also, having used the Order of Battle program during my service career, I learned the chain-of- command system which I was able to employ in my business operation to great advantage. Each employee had a chain-of-command position with division of labor and responsibilities defined. Being an NCO also helped as I put myself in as CEO. Fortunately, God sent me an angel to help me succeed in business by giving me sound advice.