Gender

Male

Birth date

1925-2-4

Place of birth

Tracy CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-9-18, Chicago IL

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

522 FA Battalion; 215 QM Salvage & Repair Co.

Military specialty

Heavy Machine Gunner (605)

Stationed

Camp Hood, TX; Germany

Unit responsibility

HQ Co. 522 FA Batt.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

European Theater

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Victory Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern- Theater Ribbon; 2 Bronze Battle Stars; 2 Overseas Service Bars; Army of Occupation Medal - Germany; Good Conduct Medal

Living conditions

During combat with 522nd, always on the move - never slept in a tent - always in occupied German homes. Bathed out of steel helmet. Meals were almost always hot cooked by the company kitchen. Ate out of mess kits. Only one incident of entertainment - after the war ended, went fishing in a stream with hand grenades. Throw the grenade in the stream - 'Boom' - fishes float to the surface.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Running into the Dachau prisoners along the road just after they were released. Arrival into the devastated port of La Harve. On a night task force which was 'lit' by antiaircraft search lights shining on low clouds. Ignored German soldiers with hands over their heads ready to surrender to anybody who would stop. Rode through a burning German village-everything was ablaze.

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

GI Bill of Rights - Received my BS in Chemistry on the GI Bill and Calif State GI Benefits aided in obtaining my PhD. Had 550 hours of college chemistry, college physics and organic chemistry at Weihensteplen (9/45 to 4/46) A & T School at Freising, Germany given by U.S. Armed Forces Institute. The organic chem teacher was a PFC from the Armored Corp with a PhD. Received my GED high school diploma by taking a test during discharge period.

Additional information

Question - Was the 215 QM Salvage & Repair Co. the last All Nisei unit in the U.S. Army?