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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

World War II had just ended. President Harry S. Truman triumphed over the Japanese Imperial forces. America disarmed hoping for a long term peace, prosperity and freedom. I am a Japanese American and my civil rights were violated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he signed Executive Order 9066. My future was to obtain a college degree and become a viable part of my community and nation. I was an undergraduate unsponsored student at U. of Hawaii. North Korea and later Chinese volunteer army invaded South Korea under President Syngman Rhee. The U. S. Army gave me an educational deferment until 1 finished my college studies. Then, in June.4951, 1 wanted to see the Continental United States so I signed a four year contract with the United States Air Force at Van Ness Recruiting Station, San Francisco, CA.
From the incept, I noticed how valuable my college experience had been. Within 18 months, I was promoted from Buck Private to 2nd Lieutenant. 1 served under Commander in Chief Dwight D. Eisenhower at Nouaceur Air Depot, Casablanca, French North Africa. Having saved enough money, I decided to get married and was transferred to Parks Air Force Base, Pleasanton, CA. Now with our three little tykes, I was transferred again to Hq, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, then on an unaccompanied tour to Nha Trang Air Force Base, Republic of South Viet Nam. We were having difficulty holding off the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong when they launch a nationwide Tet offensive.
I served under President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in Dallas, TX. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon were my other Commander in chief when I finally retired as a member of an inspector general staff at Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, July 1973 crediting me with 23 years of continuous military service throughout three wars and the cold war with USSR. As a proud Japanese American, I served to protect our nations Constitution and our young democracy. My rank at retirement: Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, (Ret)