Sexo

Male

Birth date

1920-02-01

Local de nascimento

Los Angeles CA, USA

Inducted

1941-10-08, Bellflower CA

Tipo de alistamento

Draftee

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat/sup

Unidades onde serviu

442nd Regimental Combat Team, 522nd Field Artillery, SVC Battalion

Military specialty

Infantryman Parts clerk Motor pool

Stationed

USA; Other Countries:Italy; France; Germany

Separated

Jefferson Barracks MO

Unit responsibility

To give 442nd Combat team artillery support

Personal responsibility

To supply motor parts to our motor vehicles.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno Central Europe Rhineland Northern Apennines

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

No Time Lost Under AW 107 Lapel Button Issued American Theater Campaign Ribbon European Africa Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon American Defense Service Ribbon, 3 overseas service bars Victory Ribbon Bronze Star Good Conduct Medal

Living conditions

Being in the artillery I had a pretty soft life. Unlike infantrymen I made my bed on top of the parts bins that came attached to my parts truck. I also rigged up a portable stove inside the truck and bathed and cooked rice friends and relatives sent me. Entertainments were very few. U.S.O. contributed a lot. Probably card games were most popular.

Most vivid memory of military experience

This incident occurred soon after we arrived in Italy. Like a good soldier, I was a working hard inside my parts truck when all of a sudden, all hell let loose. It sounded like several bombs had exploded behind our line. Without hesitation, I laid flat down on my truck bed, not knowing what had happened. I really don't know how long I stayed there but strangely I heard ukuleles and singing from the 100th battalion not very far from our position. Apparently the explosive sound I heard was a firing of our long tom artillery firing from behind our line to the enemy. The 100th men were used to that firing and had not taken it for anything serious. For me, being a novice, I thought my life was at an end.

Missed most whilst in the military

Being away from home for the first time in my life, I missed my parents and all those very close and dear to me the most.

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

War is Hell! It's a shame that so many young men must sacrifice their lives. I want my family to understand that U .S. is the greatest country in the world.

Additional information

Residence:Cypress, CA. Tad and brothers farmed 28 acres in Buena Park, CA, where they grew chrysanthemums, daises and strawberries until 1973. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).