Susumas Ito was born in July 1919 in Stockton, California. His parents were immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan and became sharecroppers in rural California. Ito is the oldest of three children. He grew up in Japanese-American communities. He had difficulties keeping up with school because his parents moved around a lot until they settled in Stockton, California. Ito graduated from high school there and went to junior college. By his mother's request, he went to auto mechanic school and worked as a mechanic until he was drafted into service around October 1940. He was excited for a new adventure and looked forward to his service. His community gave him and six other men a sendoff. He went to Sacramento, California for his induction in the Army. He was sent to a non-segregated unit because of his background in automotive mechanics. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Notes: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], the Army took away his rifle and restricted him to camp. He found out his family was sent to a relocation camp in Arkansas. He was then sent, with other Japanese-American soldiers, to an inland camp in Oklahoma where he worked as an auto mechanic. He became non-combat status and received no military training. He felt like he was a civilian working for the military. Eventually he was selected to go to Camp Shelby [Annotator's Notes: Camp Shelby, Mississippi] to be part of a cadre of the 442nd Regiment [Annotator's Note: 442nd Regimental Combat Team]. He became a motor sergeant in artillery.

On 7 December 1941, Susumas Ito had a pass to go to town for that morning. He heard over the radio about the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Notes: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii] and was ordered not to leave, but left anyway to meet his girlfriend and go to Sunday service. When he returned to camp that evening, he was asked to interrogate some Japanese leaders, but refused. He did not recall ever being ill-treated for his race. He believed he was treated as an equal among his fellow comrades. He does recall superficial animosity between Japanese-Americans from Hawaii and the Japanese-Americans from the mainland, however, Ito befriended everyone. There was one instance when a group of Hawaiians began beating up Ito's Idaho friend and he had to break up the fight.

Susumas Ito was sent to Camp Shelby [Annotator's Notes: Hattiesburg, Mississippi] as a motor sergeant for a cadre in Service Battery [Annotator's Note: 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team]. This was not his idea of a soldier, but it pleased his mother. Later he volunteered for the position of instrument sergeant for a firing battery. Ito thought the training was intense and lasted four weeks. Then he was shipped overseas as an instrument sergeant. He remembered that the military was good at giving their soldiers lots of propaganda for hating their enemy. Ito did not believe the Germans were evil and did not hate them. In the late spring of 1944, Ito and his regiment left out of Newport News, Virginia and sailed on a Liberty ship [Annotator's Note: a class of quickly produced cargo ship] with a large convoy. He recalled the passage being very boring 26 day journey and the zig-zag [Annotator's Note: a naval anti-submarine maneuver] course across the Atlantic. He could hear mines going off, but his ship was never attacked. They made land in Bari [Annotator's Notes: Bari, Italy], debarked, and took a train to Naples [Annotator's Notes: Naples, Italy]. He thought the local population was very friendly and welcoming, and conversed with them frequently.

[Annotator's Notes: Susumas Ito served in the Army as an instrument sergeant in the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He arrived in Naples, Italy in May 1944 and prepared to go into combat.] Susumas Ito recalled his first combat experience was on Hill 140, which the Germans laid heavy artillery onto the Americans. Ito's unit was completely pinned down and could not advance or retreat. Ito dug in and fell asleep and when he woke up, he was by himself. He began to search out his party and found them a little bit later. [Annotator's Notes: The interviewer pauses the interview to change tapes at 0:51:54.000.] Ito explained that most of his fire missions were to harass the enemy instead of shooting at one target. He also remembered the sound of the German fire was loud and intense.

Susumas Ito and his regiment [Annotator's Note: Ito was an instrument sergeant in the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team] was attached to various divisions throughout the war. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was attached to the 34th Infantry Division during their campaign in Italy and then attached to the 36th Infantry Division in France. When he was attached to the 36th Infantry Division, they were part of the discovery of the Lost Battalion. He received his field commission while in France. He was able to stay with his unit and perform the same job but received better pay. Ito wrote to his parents but never mentioned what position he had because he did not want to scare them. He always felt fortunate that he was never wounded or killed. He carried a camera with him, even though it was illegal to carry, a bible, and a Senninbari [Annotator's Note: the senninbari or 1,000 stitch belt is a Japanese token given to soldiers for good luck] that his mother made for him in the relocation camp.

Susumas Ito explains the events of the Lost Battalion. [Annotator's Note: "The Lost Battalion" was the nickname given to elements of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division that were cut-off and surrounded in the Vosges Mountains in Southern France by German forces.] He recalled that he had just received a field commission and was leading his own team for the first time. The Regiment [Annotator's Note: Ito was a member of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team] had just secured Bruyères [Annotator's Notes: Bruyères, France]. His team was the main line of communication with headquarters. Ito and three others were given a mission to break through the enemy lines and rescue a group of soldiers that were surrounded by the enemy. Ito remembers the pitch-dark night as they were sent out into the woods. The team had to hold onto each other to keep together because they felt like they were walking blindly. They were on this mission for several days, camping out in foxholes, using logs, and branches for cover. Ito was attached to the I Company and advanced after the scouts said there was no resistance. Shortly after they started, heavy resistance began with machine guns shooting in their directions. They soon began to retreat toward a hill.

Susumas Ito recalled jumping from tree to tree and releasing counter fire. One of the captains stepped on a land mind and was killed. Ito was shocked by the news. Ito recalled that there were many casualties, including several higher-ranking officers. Ito came back without a scratch. When he reached the Lost Battalion, he saw that they were living in caves. [Annotator's Note: "The Lost Battalion" was the nickname given to elements of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division that were cut-off and surrounded in the Vosges Mountains in Southern France by German forces.] Ito was glad that he accomplished his mission, but disappointed that he was not relieved, he was given orders to continue. At one point during the fight, he was asked to knock out a target with artillery. Ito could not visually see the target, so he ranged in the target with sound. [Annotator's Notes: A telephone rings and interrupts the interview at 1:38:20.000.] Ito did not think his mission to save the Lost Battalion was anything extraordinary, but he was just doing his duty. He is fortunate that he is alive today and given another chance he would do the whole thing again.

After the mission of the Lost Battalion, Susumas Ito was sent back to the French Riviera for several months. [Annotator's Note: "The Lost Battalion" was the nickname given to elements of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division that were cut-off and surrounded in the Vosges Mountains in Southern France by German forces. The Lost Battalion was rescued by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.] He saw minimal activity on the Italian side of the Riviera. Most of the time he watched the comings and goings at a luxury hotel. A Navy ship asked him what they could use as target practice, and Ito suggested to try hitting the hotel. Much to Ito's disappointment, they did not hit the hotel. Ito can recall enjoying the beach-life while stationed at the French Riviera. Sometime in February [Annotator's Note: February 1945] his regiment [Annotator's Note: Ito was a member of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team] was sent back to the French-German border to assist with artillery. He advanced rapidly and crossed the Rhine River on a pontoon boat with ease. He recalled invading Bavaria [Annotator's Notes: Bavaria, Germany] with very little resistance. Many Germans surrendered as they moved through the country quickly.

Towards the end of World War 2, Susumas Ito and his regiment [Annotator's Note: Ito was a member of 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team] was approaching Dachau [Annotator's Notes: Dachau, Germany]. They kept seeing prisoners dressed in striped uniform. Ito realized that these were prisoners in the concentration camps. Ito "hired" one of the prisoners to be a translator. He became good friends with him and kept in touch with him after the war. Ito's regiment was given credit for liberating Dachau sub-camps. Ito took several pictures with his camera of the prisoners and satellite camps of Dachau. He recalled being surprised when he saw the prisoners for the first time. It did not occur to him that they were in slave camps until a little bit later. He also remembered he was told not to give them food because it could kill them. Ito has returned to Dachau on a couple of occasions. He also believes that the relocation camps for the Japanese-Americans are different than from the concentration camps in Europe.

At the end of World War 2 in Europe, Susumas Ito was in Bavaria [Annotator's Notes: Bavaria, Germany] for occupation duty. He was the only officer left in his battery [Annotator's Note: Ito was an officer on one of the gun batteries of 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team], because all the other officers returned home first. He was put in command of a black truck unit until he was able to go home. He did not enjoy this duty very much because he thought many of the men were rowdy. Eventually he was put on a Liberty ship [Annotator's Note: a class of quickly produced cargo ship] and steamed into New York City [Annotator's Notes: New York, New York] after a six day voyage. He was then sent up to Camp Kilmer [Annotator's Notes: Camp Kilmer, New Jersey]. Ito commented on the souvenirs he brought back from the war. He took a train to Minneapolis [Annotator's Notes: Minneapolis, Minnesota] to meet his family around Christmas [Annotator's Note: Christmas 1945]. He was discharged the following February. Ito went back to school on the G.I. Bill and studied and excelled in Biology.

Susumas Ito believes its important to have The National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana]. He has concerns that many of the young people today do not know much about World War 2. Ito believes that World War 2 changed him tremendously, in a good way. He is satisfied with his life and what he has achieved, which he could not have done without joining the Army. He is happy with his life choices. He believes people should do their share to contribute to the world. Ito shares the story how he met his wife. After the war, he attended a friend's Christmas party and began dating her soon after. They married in 1948. His wife was in a relocation camp in Utah during the war.