Two days after D-Day, Rudy Haruo Kawahara shipped out to Hawaii, where his group of 10 MISers were a
Two days after D-Day, Rudy Haruo Kawahara shipped out to Hawaii, where his group of 10 MISers were attached to the 96th Infantry Division. He and Fred Fukushima were sent to the 381st Regiment and assigned two big MPs as bodyguards, making sure no one tried to mess with them. They went to each platoon, teaching them Japanese phrases or words like “drop your weapon” or “surrender.” By the time they shipped out, bound for Leyte in the Philippines, most of the guys were friendly with them. After the naval bombardment and the lead group pushed inland, Rudy’s group went ashore. Despite their being away from the front, Japanese planes bombed their position at night to destroy the supplies. Guys were so nervous they shot at anything that moved, even rustling or falling coconuts. As they moved inland, Rudy recalled seeing people killed by the artillery fire. “I never saw people that got blown up and died like that…. So, it kind of turned my stomach.”.Read the rest in Shane Sato’s “The Go For Broke Spirit” available here. -- source link
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