To represent the US in combat against the Axis Powers in Italy and France.
Personal responsibility
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.
Major battles (if served in a war zone)
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.
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
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.
HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTONS - WW II: Honorably discharged in October 1945.
Living conditions
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.
Most vivid memory of military experience
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.
Missed most whilst in the military
Friends, classmates, sisters, brothers, and especially Mom and Dad, plus home-cooking.
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
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.
Additional information
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.
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