Roy Hiroshi Matsumoto (1913 - 2014)

Born 1 May 1913 in Laguna, San Diego, California, United States

Died 21 Apr 2014 at age 100 in San Juan Island, San Juan, Washington, United States

Biography

Roy Matsumoto was a centenarian, living to age 100.

Roy Matsumoto is Notable.

Roy Hiroshi Matsumoto was born on May 1, 1913 in Laguna, California. A first generation American. His parents moved from Japan shortly before his birth. Growing up, he went by his Hiroshi in the neighborhood. After he started school, his first grade teacher told him his name was too difficult to pronounce and suggested he go by the name Roy.

When he was eight years old, his parents returned to Japan to visit family and decided to stay. He attended middle school and high school in Japan, and did some required military training. Nine years later, he returned to the United States and lived in Long Beach, California, where he attended and graduated Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1933. After graduating high school, he worked in the market as a delivery boy.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the signing of Executive Order 9066, he was sent to the Santa Anita Race Track, which was converted into an assembly area. While there, he slept in stalls meant for horses. There were no preparations to make the stalls livable, they were filthy with horse manure and hay. From there, he was sent to the Jerome, Arkansas concentration camp. While intern at the camp, he worked in the mess hall and organized food and supplies.

In 1942, Matsumoto volunteered for the United States Army. He served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He attended the MIS Language School at Camp Savage, Minnesota, and graduated top of his class. After graduating the language school, he was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for Basic Infantry Training. He became one of fourteen linguists selected from two hundred Nisei volunteers to join Merrills Marauders.

While assigned with the Merrill's Marauders, he served as a Japanese-language intelligence specialist in the Burma Campaign. He earned a Bronze Start and the Legion of Merit during his service. As a linguist, he interrogated prisoners and translated intercepted communications. He also operated behind enemy lines to gather intelligence. His efforts allowed the Marauders to repel enemy assaults with no casualties. Leading many of his fellow soldiers to say "We owe our lives to Matsumoto."

After the war, he remained in the Army, serving for 20 years as a master sergeant in 1963. During his time in the military, he was awarded numerous medals and awards, including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Start Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Combat Infantry Badge, the Good Army Commendation Medal, the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal (India-Burma, Northern Burma, China Theater), the National Defense Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Occupation Medal (Japan). In addition to his U.S. medals, he received the Certificate of Honor for Liberation Star Award from Burma and the War Memorial Medal from China. On July 19, 1993, MSG Matsumoto was recognized for this outstanding contribution during the siege at Nhpum Ga and inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.

He died on April 21, 1914 on San Juan Island, Washington. After his death, he was also inducted into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 1997 and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Roy Matsumoto
• Wikidata: Item Q7373130, en:Wikipedia