World War II Honoree

Yoshimi Hayashi

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honored By

Fumio Serikawa

Relationship

Friend

DECEMBER 7, 1941-JANUARY 21, 1942. AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS CADETS REPORTED FOR DUTY WITH THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD; ASSIGNED TO GUARD VARIOUS VITAL INSTALLATIONS UNTIL THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD WAS INACTIVATED. FEBRUARY 25, 1942-JANUARY 31, 1943. VOLUNTEERED FOR THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS, A GROUP OF JAPANESE –AMERICANS RECLASSIFIED AS '4C'; ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES; PLEDGED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REGAIN OUR RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY; ASSEMBLED PREFAB HOUSES, CLEARED DRAINAGE DITCHES, BUILT ROADS, CRUSHED ROCKS FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND PARTICIPATED REGULARLY IN BLOOD DRIVES AND WAR BOND PURCHASES UNTIL THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS WAS DISBANDED TO ALLOW ITS MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEWLY CREATED, ALL NISEI, 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT. ON MARCH 25, 1943, INDUCTED INTO 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT; TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI; REASSIGNED TO JAPANESE LANGUAGE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (MIS) SCHOOL IN MINNESOTA; COMPLETED MIS TRAINING AND WAS ASSIGNED TO MILITARY POLICE PLATOON 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION WITH TRANSLATOR AS HIS MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL.