Roy Matsumoto grew up in southern California. As a teenager, he went to Japan to live with his maternal grandparents and studied three years in a Japanese middle school. He returned to the United States to complete his secondary education.
<br><br>In 1942 Matsumoto was interned in the detention center in Jerome, Arkansas. It was from the camp that he decided to volunteer for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He would spend the next 21 years in the MIS, serving in various capacities throughout the world.
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So I voted for him [Franklin D. Roosevelt] because I was a worker, you know...and in turn they send me to the concentration camp. I was so mad, and I gonna show 'em, you know, I am maybe not better than others but as good as the next guy and I'll show 'em what I can do. And that was my determination...
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<br><br>The greatest feats of his military career occurred during his time as one of Merrill's Marauders--a combat team led by Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill. Specially trained in jungle warfare, the unit infiltrated enemy lines in the mountains of Burma with the main objective of reconquering northern Burma and the Myitkyina Airfield so that war supplies could be shipped to China. On numerous occasions, Matsumoto single-handedly intercepted telephone communications between Japanese troops and relayed critical information to his superiors. Once, he overheard a message that gave away the location of an ammunition dump. With this piece of intelligence, a U.S. fighter plane was able to decimate the enemy supply headquarters.
<br><br>During the Battle of Nhpum Ga, Matsumoto and his battalion found themselves surrounded by enemy troops. Sensing the urgency to take action, Matsumoto, with two hand grenades in his pocket, crawled out of his foxhole to get closer to the enemy. With his knowledge of various Japanese dialects, he was able to identify and comprehend the enemy's dialogue in the Fukuoka dialect. And it was during this midnight eavesdropping that Matsumoto discovered the Japanese Army's plan for an all-out attack the next morning.
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I decided to carry two hand grenade[s], one for them and one for me if I get captured. So every time I go out, "Sarge, why you do a crazy thing like that? You might get killed!" But always I tell them well, "You know, if I don't go out and find out, all going to get killed."
<br><br>You know what the hardest thing was I couldn't sneeze or cough. That was the hardest thing. [I was so close I could understand what they talked about.]....And I found out that they are gonna attack a certain area with certain numbers of people and at a certain time.
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<br><br>When dawn broke the next day, while the Japanese were finding nothing but empty foxholes on the American side, Matsumoto--impersonating a Japanese officer-stood up and shouted "<i>Totsugeki!</i>" ordering the confused Japanese soldiers to attack. In an instant, the Marauders ambushed the Japanese, which resulted in 54 Japanese soldiers dead and no American casualties. For this act of heroism, Matsumoto was awarded the Legion of Merit.
<br><br>After Merrill's Marauders disbanded, Matsumoto joined the 475th Infantry Regiment of the Mars Task Force and conducted similar work with the Chinese Nationalist Army in Yunnan. During the Occupation, he was involved in intelligence and security work in Japan until 1952 when he returned to the United States. In 1963 Matsumoto retired after 20 years of military service.
<br><br>In 1993 Matsumoto became the first minority veteran of the U.S. Army to be inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, alongside war heroes from past American wars. He was also inducted into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 1997.
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When I was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame and I let her [Matsumoto's mother] know. And at that time she said "<i>Yoku yatta</i>" [you did a good job], you know. She was very happy for me and that's what she wanted me to do, you know, my best, and I didn't think I did that well...
<br><br>I been shipped around...kicked around, but I did the right thing. Some say it was my duty, and have to do unpleasant thing, and some people might lose job, might lose life, and might suffer uncomfortable things, but I have done all in line of duty and I have no regret even though it's a dirty job....so I just did the right thing, so always do the right thing.
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