Banco de Dados da Experiência Militar Nipo-Americana
James Masao "Jim or James" Sakamoto
Sexo
Male
Birth date
1921-2-10
Local de nascimento
Gilroy CA, U.S.A.
Inducted
1944-8-11, Phoenix AR
Tipo de alistamento
Draftee
Ramo das Forças Armadas
Army
Tipo de serviço
War
Tipo de Unidade
Combat
Unidades onde serviu
U.S. Army - Armed Forces Western Pacific (from ATIS)
Military specialty
Interpreter; Rifleman
Stationed
USA - Camp Blanding, FL; Ft. Snelling, MN; Philippines; Japan
Separated
Camp Zama, Kanagawa JP
Unit responsibility
Part of U.S. Army Military Police Unit which provided security of Luzon Prisoner War Camp.
Personal responsibility
Interpreter/interrogator
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)
Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon; Army of Occupation Ribbon - Japan; Meritorious Service Unit Plaque; Philippine Liberation Ribbon; WWII Victory Medal
Living conditions
In the Philippines - canvas squad tent - outdoor shower - outhouse. Mostly field type meals and not much entertainment except what was provided by the Army Social Service - if time premitted.
Most vivid memory of military experience
16 weeks of Camp Snelling Language School was inadequate for the work that was required in the field (Philippines). The hate of things Japanese transmitted into personal feeling, thus the Japanese prisoner suffered. Also the U.S. Army leader whom I came into contact with felt that I was very qualified and at one point asked me to translate a 'Sosho' writing which was impossible for me, but as ordered I did translate that diary with 'help' - turned out to be Japanese poems!
Missed most whilst in the military
Japanese food
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?
That military tells you to do the impossible! Also that my association with the Japanese P.O.W.s saying 'To the victors goes the spoils' was so true. Hate precludes fair and sound judgement.
Additional information
Because of internment - anger and the way we were treated, blocks out memories. I still do not remember how I travelled from Poston, AR to Ft. Douglas, UT (In reporting for military service.)