Sexo

Male

Birth date

1915-12-16

Local de nascimento

Oakland CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-10-4, Fort Sheridan IL

Tipo de alistamento

Volunteer

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War,peacetime

Tipo de Unidade

Support

Unidades onde serviu

10/1944-11/1946: US Army
1947-1950: US Army ROTC
1950-1955: Army Medical Corp Reserves
US Army Chief Surgeon's Office
Typhus Commission
Public Health and Welfare

Military specialty

MIS, Translated and interpreted the Japanese language.

Stationed

Philippines, Japan, Alabama, Minnesota

Separated

Fort Sheridan IL

Unit responsibility

Military Intelligence
Medical Corp

Personal responsibility

Translating and interpreting the Japanese language. Also photographic work.

Was assigned to the chief surgeons office, AFPAC, Tokyo. Translator interpreter with Commander Gore (USN). Interviewed and reported on Command Staff of Japanese Navy, Army, Marine, Air and Medical Corps.

As part of the US Typhus Commission in the APTO, travelled throughout Japan, accompanying field officers of the Typhus Commission in the control and prevention of typhus. Translated and interpreted the Japanese language and did photography work taking pictures of hospitals and patients in connection with work. Personally investigated and reported on the epidemiology of typhus in Yamagata.

After completing assignment with the Typhus Commission, I was assigned to the US Public Health and Welfare Department under Colonel Sams. Photographic documentaries were made on various aspects of health conditions in occupied Japan such as:
Drug scene in Tokyo which included raids on drug peddlers and black marketeers;
'Poor houses' which were temporary shelters of those bombed or burned out of their homes. These showed malnourished children with bloated abdomens;
Returning Japanese soldiers from overseas posts.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

American Theater Ribbon
Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon
Victory Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Army of Occupation Medal Japan
2 overseas service bars
Presidential Citation Unit Ribbon
USA Typhus Commission Medal for 'meritorious service' rendered in connection with the work of the United States of America Typhus Commission in control of typhus fever in Japan from November, 1945-June 30, 1946.

Most vivid memory of military experience

My reactions and observations upon arrival in Japan a couple of months after the atomic bombings were that Japan was a devastated and defeated country, and that I wanted to help the people in need. Devastation of Tokyo--not a building on the Ginza--blocks of rubble with a large steel safe on a concrete base. Hiroshima was gone with no buildings--ghost trees--no one there in November of 1945 (have some photos on file). Nagasaki was atom bombed but the homes remained intact behind the hills. Kagoshima was devastated by 'system' of multiple bombing attacks. Planes would drop remaining bombs on way home to base in Okinawa.

The railway stations and tracks were intact. Sendai and Aomori in northern Honshu were bombed. Kyoto, Nara, Nikko and Ise were not touched with all their beautiful art and castles.

People were starved with many homeless. Mothers could not breast feed their children. The general public was on a starvation diet on a ration plan. Malnourished children with bloated stomach were a common sight.

Additional information

Detained at Tanforan Race Track Assembly Center then to Minidoka 'Relocation Center', Idaho.

Pre-military service:
High School: Oakland Tech, 1932
College: U of California, School of Optometry, 1939, BA Physics, Optics.
Post-military service:
Professional/Graduate:
MD U of Minnesota Medical School 1950, Internship, Ancker Hospital 1950-1951.
Post Graduate:
Ophthalmology Residency - Mayo Clinic, 1952-1955
MS U of MN 1955
Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology, U of M 1956-1986.
Private Practice, Ophthalmology, 1955-1999

Have served as President for the following organizations:
Minnesota Medical School Alumni Society, 1985-1986
Japan America Society of Minnesota, 1989-1990
North Maplewood Lions Club, 1994-1995
Mayo Clinic Ophthalmological Alumni Society

Awards received:
Vision Foundation, U of MN, the Alumni Service Award - 1991
State of MN, Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, Asian-Pacific Leadership Award for Community Services and Health Services - 1993
City of St. Paul Mayor's Award for Community Service from Mayor Vavoulis and Latimer

Member of Doctors Mayo Society

Married to the former Yoshi Uchiyama, 3 children, 7 granddaughters and 1 great-grandson as of November 2001.

Dr. George Tani passed away on 3/22/1999 in St. Paul, MN