Sexo

Male

Birth date

1920-04-20

Local de nascimento

Philadelphia PA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-08-09, Ft. Meade MD

Tipo de alistamento

Volunteer

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat

Unidades onde serviu

442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company I

Military specialty

Infantry - Squad Leader (peace time)

Stationed

USA:Mississippi
Other Countries: Italy; France

Separated

Indiantown Gap PA

Unit responsibility

Combat Infantry - spearhead unit.

Personal responsibility

Rifleman, Grenade Launcher.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Every battle in which the 442nd was involved. Italy, France, Champagne Campaign, Italy in last push.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Combat Infantryman Badge
European Theater of Operation Badge w/4 Battle Stars
3 Purple Hearts
Bronze Star w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Unit Citation w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Good Conduct Medal
Victory Medal

Living conditions

Sleep - whenever we could, in combat usually in slit tenches, old barns, or in open.
Bathe - sponge baths from water from helmets, streams,or central bath units.
Meals - 'C' or 'K' rations most of time. In rear rest area - hot meals by Co. Cooks.
Entertainment - YOU MUST BE KIDDING!!

Most vivid memory of military experience

Getting to know and become acquainted with other Japanese-Americans (especially from Hawaii), since I had very little contact with other Japanese Americans before Pearl Harbor being born in the East Coast.

Missed most whilst in the military

Safety, clean clothes, and all the Japanese food.

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

That although many deplored the evacuation and relocation, I personally gained a wonderful wife and subsequently a family - because she was relocated to Philadelphia. Otherwise, I may not have had the opportunity to marry within my race.

I also feel that my family should know that the record of the 442nd was due to many things, the Esprit de Corps, fanned by a close fellowship between mainland and Hawaiian born, and the old Japanese sentiment of 'On' - or 'Do not bring shame to the family'.

Additional information

The one main gripe I have is that although I had contacted many prominent Nisei and JACL officers regarding my problem, I got very little or no response. Much has been written about the volunteers for the 442nd during the World War II, those from Hawaii and the Relocation Camps. However, no one mentions the small group of volunteers from the East Coast and those states not involved in the evacuation. We had no axe to grind against the government but we did volunteer.

Graduated from Lehigh University with a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in chemistry. Employed by Atlantic Richfield research and development for 13 years, later worked in the Aerospace Industry at GE in the Missile and Space Division and subsequently, the RCA Satellite Program as a Materials Engineer.

Member of the JACL and JA Veterans' Association.