https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/resources/military/59/

Ronnie Masaji Fukuoka

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Gender Male
Birth date 1933-9-4
Place of birth Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.
Inducted , Sacramento CA
Enlistment type Volunteer
Service branch Usmc
Service type War
Unit type Combat
Units served Forward Observer Team, G Battery, 3rd BN, 11th Marine Regiment-Korea
Marine Supt. Squadron-El Toro
Intercept Marine Attack Control Party-Hawaii
Military specialty Field Radio Operator
Stationed Korea, El Toro MCAS, CA; Kaneohe Bay MCAS, Hawaii
Separated El Toro CA
Unit responsibility Radio operator with Artillery Foward Observer Team-Korea
Radio operator in both Marine Corp Air Stations
Personal responsibility Operate field radios
Major battles (if served in a war zone) Manned observation post on main line of resistance (MLR) in Korea and participated in assaulting and holding 'Bunker Hill' outpost for three days under continuous mortar and frontal assault by the Communist forces to remove/annihilate us.
Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit) Bronze Star with combat 'V' in repelling counterattacks by communist forces during assault and holding 'Bunker Hill'

1st Marine Division was awarded the Navy Unit Citation and Korean Presidential Citation during the campaign of 1952.
Living conditions I lived in bunkers while on the MLR and slept on makeshift cots.
I used shower units when available and used the steel helmet most of the time.
While on the line I ate C Rations. When we went back to our artillery unit (in Reserve) I had hot meals, had cots in tents, and showers.
I had no entertainment.
Most vivid memory of military experience The fire fights to push back the enemies on Bunker Hill and returning back to our lines to retrieve a radio by myself and returning through 'no man's land'.
Missed most whilst in the military I miss the camaraderie.
Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience? Price of freedom and taking part in keeping it.


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