“Well, in 1965, there were two choices that you had…” (Video interview, 30:42)

David Henryk Masuo

David Masuo [detail from video] War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Air Force Unit: 903rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) Service Location: McChord Air Force Base (AFB), Washington; Rhein Main, Germany; Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam; Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Shemya AFB and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska Rank: Master Sergeant Place of Birth: **

Growing up in Hawaii as part of a military family, Air Force Master Sergeant David Henryk Masuo idolized members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the highly decorated unit made up of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Enlisting in the Air Force in 1965, he promised his mother he would not volunteer to go to Vietnam, but at the end of his first tour of duty, his heart told him to accept orders for a second tour in country. A liaison at Long Binh Hospital, he saw the war’s effects up close. Despite this, he found his service experience to be deeply rewarding; returning home, he spent five years working as an Air Force recruiter.