Sexo

Male

Birth date

1919-07-22

Local de nascimento

Rocky Ford CO, USA

Inducted

1941-09-20, Ft. McArthur CA

Tipo de alistamento

Volunteer

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat

Unidades onde serviu

41st Div., Ft. Lewis, WA.
442nd Regimental Combat Team, Medical Detachment

Military specialty

First Aid man
Medic

Stationed

USA
Other Countries: Italy; France; Germany

Separated

Ft. Logan CO

Unit responsibility

Combat

Personal responsibility

First Aid

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno
North Apennines
Po Valley
Rhineland
Rhone Valley
Maritime Alps

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Service Medal
European African Middle Eastern Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Bronze Star
Combat Medic
Distinguished Unit Citation
Congressional Gold Medal

Living conditions

In combat, we slept in ditches - slit trench(es). If lucky in empty house or barn. Otherwise, pup tents.
Most times - no bath. When we came off the line, portable showers waited for us.
We got clean clothes. Old ones, we wore for 3 or 4 weeks.
Ate lots of C rations. Sometimes, our brave cooks brought hot food to the front lines. What (a) treat!
My tent-mate and I played pinochle against 2 other fellows. We were ahead about $100 - but one got wounded and the other guy (got) killed.

Most vivid memory of military experience

We were in hot pursuit after a week of combat - we were tired and thisty - no food or water. Even ammo weren't catching up to us. I found where cattle walked and left hoof tracks 2' deep. Water had accumulated but was the color of tea and mosquito larva(e) kicking around. Carefully I laid my dirty handkerchief over the water and let it sink and scooped up the clean(?) water with my cup and put in my canteen and dropped some iodine in it. First water I had in 2 days!

Missed most whilst in the military

My freedom to go anywhere on my car in the evening - Girl!

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

We fought for our rights! We got a record to be proud of! I think we made life easier for all Nikkeis. We are building a monument in Lil' Tokyo. Everyone who fought in WWII should have their names engraved on this monument! Too bad the Japanese Chamber of Commerce or Church Alliance or the Museum didn't step up and offer to build this monument for the 100 - 442nd - MIS veterans.

Additional information

Owned and worked at a Ben's jewelry store on Sawtelle Blvd. for 30 years. Received the Congressional Gold Medal presented to all WWII Nisei veterans.