James was drafted into the U.S.Army towards the end of the
war. The date was April 18, 1945, he was 19 years old. The Nazi’s were just
weeks from surrendering, the Japanese however were holding out, preparing for
the inevitable invasion of their homeland.
While in basic training at Fort Chaffee Arkansas, where he also
observed many German POW’s that were held there , James was told by his
instructors that there would be at least six landings in Japan by the Allies.
Operation Olympic and Coronet were going to be the first two of the six,
planned for the fall of 1945. Like many in the service, James was probably told
that there was a very good chance that they would never come back, and if they
did it most likely would be 1948 or later.
He was trained as a rifleman while in basic, but as it often
does in war, things change and the military sends you where the need is most.
The two bombs, Fat Man and Little Boy were dropped on mainland Japan before
James got to Fort Ord, California, where he was to wait for his overseas
assignment.
James was shipped to Japan in October 1945 from Fort Ord to
be a part of the army of occupation. He
was assigned to the 128th Station Hospital in Hakadata, Japan and
began work as a cook. The mess sergeant asked James where he attended cooks and
bakers school. James stated that he had been trained as a rifleman. The sergeant
replied “Oh Lord,” and walked away.
James eventually served in many hospitals in Osaka, Sapporo
and Yokohama, Japan.
He finally made it back to the states in 1946 and was
discharged at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on November 29, 1946. He was awarded the
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Award, Army Occupation
Ribbon, Japan Victory Ribbon, 1 Overseas Service Bar and the Ruptured Duck.
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