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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/resources/military/461/
Masao Sato
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 1916-02-03 |
| Place of birth | Waikapu, Maui HI, USA |
| Inducted | 1941-03-25, Wailuku HI |
| Enlistment type | Draftee |
| Service branch | Army |
| Service type | War |
| Unit type | Combat |
| Units served | 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion Company C |
| Military specialty | Soldier-Infantry |
| Stationed | USA:Paukakalo, Maui; Schofield Barracks, Oahu; Camp McCoy, WI; Camp Shelby MS Other Countries: Italy |
| Separated | Ft. Kamehameha HI |
| Unit responsibility | Fight the enemy. |
| Personal responsibility | Follow orders and fight the enemy. |
| Major battles (if served in a war zone) | Wounded on the way to Cassino |
| Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit) | American Defense Medal - In service before Pearl Harbor Asiatic Pacific Medal - served in Hawaii Europe-Africa-Middle Eastern Medal Purple Heart - wounded Oct 23, 1943 - vicinity of San Angelo. |
| Living conditions | Living condition bad. Lived like gypsies. Slept on bare ground. Only time I bathed was in the Volturno River. Meals were mostly C rations. At times no food because the bridge was bombed out. Ate figs. Didn't have much time for entertainment. After I got wounded went on pass in Oran, North Africa and Tunis also. |
| Most vivid memory of military experience | Skunk lift up the tail and squirt me and others. When I got wounded that's the most thing is always in my mind. Every year on Oct. 23, I take time to appreciate being alive. 2 of my buddies died with the same shell that I got wounded. On Dec. 6, 1941 our National Guard was on the war-time alert. All machine guns were ready with live ammunition. I was issued live ammo for my M-1 rifle. My duty was to guard the 1st National Bank. Others guarded the water tank, telephone Co. and some went down to the wharf. Dec. 7th, we all were rushed to guard the headquarters. National Guard was on the alert while the rest called sneak attack. |
| Missed most whilst in the military | Japanese food. Tired of potatoes mashed or otherwise. Rice and tsukemono. |
| Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience? | The most important thing is I served my country and got wounded fighting. Because I served I can look anyone in the face. Told the Caucasian man and Hawaiian I served my country. Did you? Because I served I was able to work in the Naval Air Station among the Hawaiian and the rest. They respected me and four others. When I went to the dispensary, they made room for me before others. Be proud that your son fought and got wounded for the country. Because of us now hold your head high. |
| Additional information | Because of the war, it brought the Japanese American from Hawaii and mainland closer. Before the war, the mainland Japanese American looked down on the Hawaii boys. Eating together, on pass and fighting brought comradeship to the Hawaii and mainland boys. |
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