Recollections of the War

Author: anonymous author who Lives in Van Nuys, California
Puka Puka Parades, March-April 1982, v.36 no.2

Anonymous veteran’s random memories of the war

Members of the Ammunition & Pioneer Platoon must have enjoyed the culinary skill of Hiroshi “5 Grand” Sakamoto because Hiroshi was an excellent butcher and cook. Recall an incident how a piglet was knocked into a slit trench (in Italy) and the piglet became a savory, succulent, palatable entree fit for heavenly consumption for the weary G.I. who was tired of C-rations. Understand Armadillos were unarmored in a skillful manner and also consumed heartily while manuevering amongst the chigger-tick-snake infested terrains of Louisiana.

The kitchen crew appears to be the more healthier members of the company. Perhaps it can be attributed to the occasional consumption of highly spiced foods while in the rear echelon areas of Europe. Tasted a tablespoon of mushrooms prepared by chefs Toshio Fukuda, Seitoku Kaneshiro, Charles Miyashiro, Elmo Okido and supervised by Nobuo Okinaka. Hey, friends, that tablespoonful of mushrooms and spices was enough to keep one hopping a length of distance and for a period of time. Tried to find out what kind and amount of spices were in that panful of food but the only reply was — the usual kind and amount. Understand many of the beautiful looking fungi growing in abundance in the forest are deadly poisonous.

First met Shigeru Ushijima at Quadrangle B, Schofield Barracks after disaster struck the transport USS Royal T. Frank. Unfortunately, Shigeru was not entitled to the Purple Heart; therefore, Shigeru deemed that the coveted award must become his. During an Italian Campaign, Shigeru unwittingly exposed his most vulnerable area of his anatomy while being in the prone position; hence, an enemy bullet neatly penetrated his backside cheek. To this day, Shigeru has not revealed how he knew the trajectory of the bullet will only skim the epidermis and outer body tissues to cause lacerated injury.

Learned that Rinky Nakagawa considered himself to be a connoisseur and preparer of FUGU-NO-CHIRI. On an occasion, Rinky prepared Puff Fish Soup and the fish flesh turned brown instead of retaining its normal white color. The fellows decided to test the edibility of the soup by feeding the fish to the felines. Fortunately, for the cats, nothing happened to them; however, the fellows stated, “that was only one of their nine lives” so they abstained from partaking the renowned delicacy.

Recollections Of The War

by An Anonymous Veteran

who Lives in Van Nuys, California

Members of the Ammunition & Pioneer Platoon must have enjoyed the culinary skill of Hiroshi “5 Grand” Sakamoto because Hiroshi was an excellent butcher and cook. Recall an incident how a piglet was knocked into a slit trench (in Italy) and the piglet became a savory, succulent, palatable entree fit for heavenly consumption for the weary G.I. who was tired of C-rations. Understand Armadillos were unarmored in a skillful manner and also consumed heartily while manuevering amongst the chigger-tick-snake infested terrains of Louisiana.

The kitchen crew appears to be the more healthier members of the company. Perhaps it can be attributed to the occasional consumption of highly spiced foods while in the rear echelon areas of Europe. Tasted a tablespoon of mushrooms prepared by chefs Toshio Fukuda, Seitoku Kaneshiro, Charles Miyashiro, Elmo Okido and supervised by Nobuo Okinaka. Hey, friends, that tablespoonful of mushrooms and spices was enough to keep one hopping a length of distance and for a period of time. Tried to find out what kind and amount of spices were in that panful of food but the only reply was — the usual kind and amount. Understand many of the beautiful looking fungi growing in abundance in the forest are deadly poisonous.

First met Shigeru Ushijima at Quadrangle B, Schofield Barracks after disaster struck the transport USS Royal T. Frank. Unfortunately, Shigeru was not entitled to the Purple Heart; therefore, Shigeru deemed that the coveted award must become his. During an Italian Campaign, Shigeru unwittingly exposed his most vulnerable area of his anatomy while being in the prone position; hence, an enemy bullet neatly penetrated his backside cheek. To this day, Shigeru has not revealed how he knew the trajectory of the bullet will only skim the epidermis and outer body tissues to cause lacerated injury.

Learned that Rinky Nakagawa considered himself to be a connoisseur and preparer of FUGU-NO-CHIRI. On an occasion, Rinky prepared Puff Fish Soup and the fish flesh turned brown instead of retaining its normal white color. The fellows decided to test the edibility of the soup by feeding the fish to the felines. Fortunately, for the cats, nothing happened to them; however, the fellows stated, “that was only one of their nine lives” so they abstained from partaking the renowned delicacy.