UP and DOWN IN and AROUND NORTH and SOUTH KOREA

About the Book

Kenneth A. Tashiro has long wanted to share his vivid memories of his Korean War experiences. His previous book “Wase Time” shared his experience as a teenager incarcerated in a Japanese -American internment camp during World War II. After his military service he attended the University of California at Berkeley and San Jose State University. He taught elementary, high school and special education classes in California for 29 years. Since his retirement he has relocated from Watsonville, California to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and now lives in Honolulu, Hawaii with his wife Taye. They share three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Now at 95 years old, he shares this book as part of the legacy that shaped him and as a tribute to Korean War Veterans who served with him in the “Forgotten War” that freed South Korea.

About the Author

Kenneth A. Tashiro was a 20 year old US Army trained interpreter and soldier when he was sent on his first tour of duty to the front lines of the new war between North and South Korea in July 1950. As the US and other UN troops fought to defend and regain the democratic territory of South Korea from the Communist-led forces of North Korea and China, Ken was a Corporal and interrogator of Prisoners of War (POW’s). These words are from his handwritten journal kept during his deployment with the US Army and the Interrogation of Prisoners of War Team (IPW) 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division in Korea from July 4,1950 to June 26, 1951. He shares his firsthand experiences at the onset of the Korean War through his journal entries, opening our eyes to the routine of military life, the pastimes and friends that relieved that monotony and uncertainty, and strikingly, the unpredictable nature of life in the combat zone.