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Meet Roy Matsumoto (right in photo)
A Japanese-American and one of Merrill’s Marauders, the US special forces unit.
Probably the most extraordinary WW2 veteran I interviewed.
Brave, resourceful & very forgiving.
Roy became a Marauders legend on April 6 1944
This is his story:
Meet Roy Matsumoto (right in photo)
A Japanese-American and one of Merrill’s Marauders, the US special forces unit.
Probably the most extraordinary WW2 veteran I interviewed.
Brave, resourceful & very forgiving.
Roy became a Marauders legend on April 6 1944
This is his story:
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Roy was born in L.A in 1913 & attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He was American. But in Jan 1942 he was interned. "It was very hard when I lost my freedom,” Roy said. “I lost just about everything. The government’s excuse: it was enemy alien property. I was so mad.”
Roy was born in L.A in 1913 & attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He was American. But in Jan 1942 he was interned. "It was very hard when I lost my freedom,” Roy said. “I lost just about everything. The government’s excuse: it was enemy alien property. I was so mad.”
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Six months later, the USA realised their ‘aliens’ could be very useful with their language skills. Despite their treatment, Matsumoto & hundreds of Nisei (meaning second generation) volunteered to serve.
Fourteen of them volunteered for the Marauders in September 43.
Six months later, the USA realised their ‘aliens’ could be very useful with their language skills. Despite their treatment, Matsumoto & hundreds of Nisei (meaning second generation) volunteered to serve.
Fourteen of them volunteered for the Marauders in September 43.
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The Marauders marched into Burma in Feb 1944. Roy, all 5ft 2in of him, was in 2 Battalion - 900 strong. ‘There was always a chance of being captured,’ he told me. ‘Therefore, I carried two hand grenades – one for the enemy and one for me.’
The Marauders marched into Burma in Feb 1944. Roy, all 5ft 2in of him, was in 2 Battalion - 900 strong. ‘There was always a chance of being captured,’ he told me. ‘Therefore, I carried two hand grenades – one for the enemy and one for me.’
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Roy distinguished himself at Walawbum but it was during the siege of Nhpum Ga when he had his finest hour. The siege began on March 28 1944 & the next day the Japanese made their first attempt to take the hilltop.
It was repelled.
Men of 2 Bttn
Roy distinguished himself at Walawbum but it was during the siege of Nhpum Ga when he had his finest hour. The siege began on March 28 1944 & the next day the Japanese made their first attempt to take the hilltop.
It was repelled.
Men of 2 Bttn
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Every day the Japanese attacked. The dead piled up, the stench increased, so did thirst, hunger & dysentery. One Marauder, Gabriel Kinney (pic), told me: "Every minute of Nhpum Ga is still in my memory …13 days and 14 nights that the English language cannot describe” .
Every day the Japanese attacked. The dead piled up, the stench increased, so did thirst, hunger & dysentery. One Marauder, Gabriel Kinney (pic), told me: "Every minute of Nhpum Ga is still in my memory …13 days and 14 nights that the English language cannot describe” .
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The boys of 2 Battalion soon came to know when an assault was imminent. The sweetish pungent scent of opium would waft their way from Japanese lines. “This would tell me we are going to get hit again pretty soon,” said Ed Kohler.
The boys of 2 Battalion soon came to know when an assault was imminent. The sweetish pungent scent of opium would waft their way from Japanese lines. “This would tell me we are going to get hit again pretty soon,” said Ed Kohler.
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2 Bttn received resupply by air & their buddies in 3 Bttn were fighting their way up the hill to break the siege (this pic was taken on 6/4/1944).
On the night of April 5/6 there was an unusual amount of chatter in the Japanese frontline at the north-west corner of Nhpum Ga.
2 Bttn received resupply by air & their buddies in 3 Bttn were fighting their way up the hill to break the siege (this pic was taken on 6/4/1944).
On the night of April 5/6 there was an unusual amount of chatter in the Japanese frontline at the north-west corner of Nhpum Ga.
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Something was brewing.
What was being said was just out of earshot, so Matsumoto crawled out of his fox hole towards the Japanese frontline. He was petrified.
He prayed what he called his ‘ABCD’ prayer – to Allah, Buddha, Christ or the Devil.
Anyone who would listen.
Something was brewing.
What was being said was just out of earshot, so Matsumoto crawled out of his fox hole towards the Japanese frontline. He was petrified.
He prayed what he called his ‘ABCD’ prayer – to Allah, Buddha, Christ or the Devil.
Anyone who would listen.
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For a long time Roy lay in the dark listening, yards from the Japanese. He gleaned everything: time of the attack, location & as he told his officer on his return ‘they are going to be hitting full strength on your platoon & the orders are it must be taken’.
For a long time Roy lay in the dark listening, yards from the Japanese. He gleaned everything: time of the attack, location & as he told his officer on his return ‘they are going to be hitting full strength on your platoon & the orders are it must be taken’.
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Noiselessly, the platoon slunk out of their fox-holes, booby-trapping them before they left, & formed a defensive line 100 yards up the hill. The Browning MG crew were brought up.
The Japanese attacked at dawn on April 6. The first wave was slaughtered.
Noiselessly, the platoon slunk out of their fox-holes, booby-trapping them before they left, & formed a defensive line 100 yards up the hill. The Browning MG crew were brought up.
The Japanese attacked at dawn on April 6. The first wave was slaughtered.
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Matsumoto saw the second wave of enemy soldiers hesitate, unsure whether to go on or fall back. Matsumoto had studied Japanese infantry tactics; he knew the order to now issue. ‘Prepare to charge’, he yelled in perfect Japanese. He paused, then hollered, ‘Charge!’
Matsumoto saw the second wave of enemy soldiers hesitate, unsure whether to go on or fall back. Matsumoto had studied Japanese infantry tactics; he knew the order to now issue. ‘Prepare to charge’, he yelled in perfect Japanese. He paused, then hollered, ‘Charge!’
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“On my right flank about 35 yards away from me, I hear someone yelling and he’s yelling in Japanese," said Sergeant Warren Ventura. ‘I look and it’s Roy Matsumoto, standing there, fully exposed above the ground...ordering them in Japanese to charge.”
“On my right flank about 35 yards away from me, I hear someone yelling and he’s yelling in Japanese," said Sergeant Warren Ventura. ‘I look and it’s Roy Matsumoto, standing there, fully exposed above the ground...ordering them in Japanese to charge.”
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With impeccable discipline the second wave of Japanese obeyed Matsumoto’s instructions. They ran up the hill to their death. “My machine gun had a good field of fire,” said Ventura, “[but] how Matsumoto lived through this attack… the man led a charmed life.”
2 Bttn wounded
With impeccable discipline the second wave of Japanese obeyed Matsumoto’s instructions. They ran up the hill to their death. “My machine gun had a good field of fire,” said Ventura, “[but] how Matsumoto lived through this attack… the man led a charmed life.”
2 Bttn wounded
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The Americans counted 54 dead on the hill. Matsumoto felt no sadness as he surveyed the carnage. “I was happy. They'd tried to wipe us out but we had wiped them out.”
The siege was broken on April 9. Easter Sunday. Pict are some of 2 Bttn at a church service
The Americans counted 54 dead on the hill. Matsumoto felt no sadness as he surveyed the carnage. “I was happy. They'd tried to wipe us out but we had wiped them out.”
The siege was broken on April 9. Easter Sunday. Pict are some of 2 Bttn at a church service
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The Marauders held their 14 Nisei in great esteem.
The 2 Battalion boys I interviewed 70 years later spoke of Roy with reverence.
Roy Matsumoto 1913-2014.
The Marauders held their 14 Nisei in great esteem.
The 2 Battalion boys I interviewed 70 years later spoke of Roy with reverence.
Roy Matsumoto 1913-2014.
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