Sexo

Male

Birth date

1920-1-21

Local de nascimento

Makawile, Kauai HI, U.S.A.

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat

Unidades onde serviu

100th Battalion, D Company, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Military specialty

Machine-gun operator

Stationed

Mississippi; Italy

Separated

Japan

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Italy - he marched and was one of the first companies to liberate several cities in Italy.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

His 100th Battalion is known for being one of the highest decorated troops. However, he could not give me any details.

Living conditions

Tent, shower, U.S. rations, No entertainment except to play cards to pass the time.

Most vivid memory of military experience

One evening my buddy and I were eating our C ration dinner, then all of a sudden a shot rang in the still night air and my buddy lay limp - he was shot in the head by a sniper.

Missed most whilst in the military

Mother and family and being able to live every day without thinking about death.

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

He's appalled and still angry at the political discrimination that existed even when the Japanese Americans gave their life for their country. The 100th Battalion was ordered to take over a 'German Hill' and they suffered tremendous casualties in doing so. After they succeeded, they were ordered to withdraw and a Texas troop marched in the place of the 100th Battalion. The Texas troop was given the accolade that was undeserving. The pain and suffering endured was not even recognized, let alone rewarded.

Additional information

Written by family member:

My father suffered a stroke in 1989 and has difficulties with his memory and in verbalizing his thoughts. This is all the information we could obtain.

However, after the stroke, while he was slowly recovering, his mind always flashed back and he thought he was back in the war, referring to the trenches, machine guns, spies and enemies. It's clear that the war was the most impressionable period of his life.