Gender

Male

Birth date

1922-6-10

Place of birth

Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1942-1-26, Los Angeles CA

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

100th Bn., 442nd RCT

Military specialty

Rifleman

Stationed

USA; Italy; France

Separated

Indiantown Gap PA

Unit responsibility

To support all battalion activities.

Personal responsibility

First scout of the first squad in the second platoon of Able Company.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Bruyeres, France and Po Valley, Italy

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Bronze Star - Meritorious Combat Ops during Rhineland Campaign; Purple Heart - wounded in Rhineland campaign; Prsidential Unit Citation - Lost Battalion campaign

Most vivid memory of military experience

I went to a public bathhouse in Italy, and the madam said all the singles are occupied but I can have a double. I said OK and took a room with two tubs. After I was in the tub and soaking, the door opened and two young ladies walked in. Without hesitation, they undressed right in front of me with my eyes wide open and my face as red as a beet. They then stepped into their tub. After what felt like hours, they asked me when I was going to wash up and get out. Under my aroused condition, I wasn't going to stand up before those ladies. So I told them I was waiting for them to get finished and leave. They told me they were waiting for me to get finished first so that they could get my soap. I told them, 'Here, use my soap and wash yourselves'. After they bathed, they got up dried themselves and got dressed. As they were departing, they returned my soap and bid me a cheerful 'Ciao'. I think they took pleasure in my embarassment.

Missed most whilst in the military

Home cooking

Additional information

As a brash and slightly wild teenager, I volunteered for the Army. Although wounded, I was fortunate that it wasn't a blinding, crippling or dibilitating wound. After the war, I was lucky enough to get a wonderful education under the G.I. Bill. My degree offered me a very rewarding career in Engineering. My only regret is that my wife passed away and is not here to help me with my retirement. Life is too lonesome without her.