Gender

Male

Birth date

1918-9-4

Place of birth

Brush CO, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-7-1, Scottsbluff NE

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

100th Infantry Battalion; Headquarters

Military specialty

Motor Transportation

Stationed

USA - Schofield Barracks, HI; Camp Wheeler, GA; Camp McCoy, WI; Camp Shelby, MS; NJ; Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Oran, Africa; Salerno Beach, Italy; Anzio Beach Head, Italy; Marseilles, France; Strasbourg, Germany; Nice, France; Leghorn, Italy; Naples, Italy.

Separated

Ft. Leavenworth KS

Unit responsibility

Infantry.

Personal responsibility

As a sergeant, my direct responsibilitiy was to run the motor pool of drivers and mechanics for the 100th Battalion

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Salerno Beach; Anzio Beach Landing; Bruyeres Battle - I was with the 100th the whole way.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Bronze Star - awarded for meritorious service in combat; Cokmbat Infantry Badge; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

Living conditions

We slept monstly on the ground. Took body wash - (where no regular baths available); K and C rations for meals. Took Passes to visit famous places in Europe during R & R.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Camaraderie of friends that were all combat soldiers. There were both good times and bad, but we always stuck together.

Missed most whilst in the military

I missed 'home cooking', a decent mattress and bed, and of course, my family and friends.

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

Freedom is something that should not be taken for granted. It is important for all men to communicate freely and openly without violence. Peacetime allows the soul to grow. I cherish the times we are not in war.

Additional information

I remember vividly how proudly the men of the 100th Battalion fought for the right to become American Citizens. It never was as important to all Americans as it was to the Americans of Japanese Ancestry. I appreciate your efforts to carry on the dreams of my fellow soldiers and colleagues of the 100th Infantry Battalion.