World War II Honoree

Richard Kazuo Mizuta

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honored By

Son

ENLISTED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR. THE FIRST COMBAT UNIT COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY, WHICH LATER BECAME THE FAMOUS 100TH INFANTRY BATTALION THAN BECAME ATTACHED TO THE 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HE BEGAN HIS TRAINING FOR ONE YEAR IN WISCONSIN AND MISSISSIPPI BEFORE SHIPPING OUT IN EARL SEPTEMBER OF 1943 FOR ORAN, NORTH AFRICA. LATER THAT MONTH SAILED FOR SALERNO, ITALY AND ITS APPOINTMENT WITH HISTORY. FOUGHT FROM SALERNO TO CASSINO, WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED. SENT BACK TO THE STATES AND SPENT THREE YEARS RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURIES.