Sexo

Male

Birth date

1919-11-13

Local de nascimento

Berkeley CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1942-2-25, Presidio Monterey CA

Tipo de alistamento

Draftee

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Support

Unidades onde serviu

Basic Inf. Training, Camp Robinson, AR
Finance Detachment, Camp Crowder, MO
MISLS Sec 6 (Graduated Savage, Dec. 1942)
USAFISPA
37th Inf. Div., G-2

Military specialty

Military Intelligence
Intelligence NCO

Stationed

USA: Camp Robinson, AR; Camp Crowder, MO; Camp Savage, MN
Other Countries: New Caledonia, Bouganville; Luzon, Philippines

Separated

Salt Lake City UT

Unit responsibility

Served mostly with 37th Inf. Div. Guarded perimeter, Bouganinville
Recapture Manila, Baquio, Luzon in general.

Personal responsibility

Served as member of Language Team, G-2, 377th Div. interrogating PWs, translating captured documents; encourage surrender with bull horn, etc.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

2nd battle of Bougainville (3/44 - 5/44); Luzon campaign (Manila, Baguio) 1/9/45 - 5/45.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Good Conduct Medal
Meritorious Unit Emblem
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 Battle Stars
Philippine Liberation Ribbon
Unit Commendation from Major General Beightler, 2d Battle of Bougainville
Sharpshooter Badge (carbine)
Also Philippine Liberation Medal, Emb. of Phil., 4/94.

Living conditions

Worst was during the one year period (11/43 - 11/44) on Bougainville. We slept in jungle hammocks (had built-in mosquito netting with zippers and a plastic roof) for 6 months. Last few months we got cots and a tent with dirt floors. Our wash basin was our steel helmuts. We did manage to improvise a shower, however, with a 50 gallon gasoline drum and pipes from the quartermaster. We dug a 15 foot well. Meals were reasonably good (hot) in mess tent with mosquito netting. Had movies (outdoor); again your steel helmut served as your

Most vivid memory of military experience

While the death stench of rotting bodies in the jungles of Bougainville remain strong in my memory, perhaps the strongest shock I experienced was when some Filipino guerillas drove up to our Division Hqtrs. on the outskirts of Manila on a jeep with a slain Japanese soldier's decapitated head mounted on the hood as an ornament. He was young and handsome; clean shaven with short hair. The guerillas were gleefully enjoying their

Missed most whilst in the military

Family and friends; which most soldiers probably do but the Nisei also faced uncertainty of parents in camps, future, etc.

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

That war is hell, to be avoided if at all possible. Having said that - I must add duty to one's country, no matter how trying, such as the Nisei situation in WWII, is imperative. Vietnam was another tough situation.

Additional information

While my military service ended August 10, 1945, I also served in the Occupation of Japan 5/46 - 9/48 as a civilian at the International Military Tribunal, Far East (Tokyo Trials) with the Defense Division as Asst. Chief of Language Branch. Grade: GS-11.