Sexo

Male

Birth date

1920-4-28

Local de nascimento

San Francisco CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-11-4, Sacramento CA

Tipo de alistamento

Draftee

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Army

Tipo de serviço

War,peacetime

Tipo de Unidade

Combat

Unidades onde serviu

Co. 'F' 2nd Battalion 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Military specialty

Infantryman

Stationed

USA - CA, AK, KS, AL ; Italy; France

Separated

Sacramento CA

Unit responsibility

As an infantry unit we were the first ones to come into contact with the enemies, provided we were the group or company unit leading the assault.

Personal responsibility

As an assistant BAR man (Browning Automatic Rifle) to my foxhole comrade and buddy who was the one carrying the BAR, which was the main fire power for our squad. I had to carry extra ammunitions.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Received my baptism into battle in the Vosges Mountain in France near the town of Bruyeres and later participated in the rescue of 'Lost Battalion' of the 36th Division of Texas. This battle was responsible for our unit receiving its first Presidential Unit Citation. After that battle, which really decimated our unit, we enjoyed a sort of rest period in Southern France on the Maginot Line fortresses. From there our unit (minus the 522nd Field Artillery Unit) was called back to Italy to help spearhead the final assault on the German defense on the Gothic Line.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

1. Presidential Unit citation for rescuing the 'Lost Battalion' of the 36th Division from Texas. 2. Combat Infantryman Badge - given to all infantry soldiers serving in battle.

Living conditions

My first twenty eight days in battle we only used the water in our canteen for drinking purpose only. No bathing at all. At night we slept in our foxhole while taking turns standing guard. During battle, our meals were K rations. We never did go hungry. Once or twice our kitchen crew brought us hot meal. For that, the kitchen crew received a citation (service beyond the call of duty).

Most vivid memory of military experience

Once when I was on guard duty after the war had started, this was in Camp Robinson, Arkansas, the corporal of the Guard came and took my live ammunition away. The other event that I cannot forget took place in California. I was taking my basic training at Camp Roberts, a short distance from Paso Robles, and had just one more week left to finish my training when all the Japanese American soldiers were herded onto a troop train and shipped out to Camp Robinson in Arkansas. Leaving California wasn't so bad but what bothered me was that the Army officials put MP's (Military Police ) on the train to escort us to our destination. Here we were American soldiers in soldiers uniform and being guarded by Caucasian soldiers in the same uniforms. This was very depressing. The other thing that I remember about the war is when we left America for Europe. We left from a place called Hampton Roads in Virginia. We did not know it at the time but we were in a convoy of twenty to thirty ships and escorts, zigzagging our way across the Atlantic Ocean. It took us around seventeen days to reach Naples, Italy. Fortunately, I don't recall hearing that we had lost any ship on that trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the German submarine. Incidentally, when I was retuning to America after the war, I thought we would be docking in New York harbor and I could see the Statue of Liberty, but I was wrong. Instead, our ship the Mariposa docked at the same port that I had left America to go overseas - Hampton roads, Virginia. What a depressing situation!

Missed most whilst in the military

The freedom of everyday life. In the military everything was done at a certain time and you had to take orders all the time.

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

First, when you are with a group, such as in a barrack, you learn quickly to try and get along with everyone even though you may not like what they say or do. Later on you come to realize who you can get along with and enjoy their company. Secondly, I am grateful that I was able to participate in a war zone because I was able to see with my own eyes and feel the real destruction, humility and starvation that war causes to all the people in that particular country that was invaded. It was very sickening! Third I am grateful that I was able to see many parts of the world.

Additional information

As a draftee in the second draft of this country I feel that I was very fortunate because the war had not started yet. I'm sure that being in the military helped me mature as an adult more quickly. The experience of being among different types of people, taking orders, moving from place to place, going to other countries, speaking different languages, seeing different cultures and enjoying the European buildings and scenery will be something I will never forget for the rest of my life! In conclusion I would like to say as an American Citizen I am proud to have served in the U.S. Army during World War Two. I also feel very lucky to be discharged from the service without any disablilities.