	Masami Endo was a Japanese-American World War II veteran. He was born on January 3, 1916 in Ogden, Utah. He lived in a household of five with his mother Hisayo Nezu and father Yonezo Endo, as well as his two siblings, Takeshi and Mary Mariko Endo. He worked as a janitor and as a porter at Paramount Studios prior to joining the United States army. He registered for the U.S. army on October 16, 1940. Endo enlisted in the military three times, reaching Sergeant status. He began his third service in Leghorn, Italy as a rifle sharpshooter when he enlisted on November 21, 1946. He was a part of the 442nd regimental combat team. Endo won a Bronze Star Award, as well as a World War II victory medal. He moved back to the United States on October 28, 1947. Endo was honorably discharged with a First Class Sergeant standing on November 20, 1949 in Fort Riley Kansas. He returned home to his wife Giovanna Endo in Alhambra, California. Endo passed away in Alhambra, California on September 5, 1996.


This biography was researched and written by students as part of the Digital Veterans Legacy Project at Loyola Marymount University, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration.

Masami in a light jacket poses in front of a background of flowers while traveling in Japan.

Sgt. Masami Endo in his U.S. Army fatigues.

Sgt. Masami Endo takes a break while serving in Europe during WWII.  He served in France and Italy after training with the 100th Battalion in the Mainland U.S. When the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed, he was sent to Europe to become part of the new, albeit segregated all-Japanese American regiment. He hoped to be trained as a photographer for the U.S. Army but was assigned to the Service Company where he was trained to cook.  He came to like the assignment and eventually was promoted to the rank of sergeant.  As a mess sergeant in charge of preparing meals for thousands of soldiers every day, he learned to be resourceful.  These were Japanese American soldiers who were accustomed to having rice with their meals.  He often relied on the "black market" to obtain rice, pork, and vegetables. He bartered for ingredients to create seasoning similar to soy sauce. When a unit was ordered to go to the front lines to fight the enemy, Sgt, Endo prepared musubi (rice balls) for them to eat while in transit or camped outdoors. He was clever and strong but also thoughtful. Her learned languages easily and could speak French and Italian, which helped when he was bartering with the locals for hard-to-get ingredients. He was especially adept at obtaining beef steaks and making fancy desserts for the officers who occasionally requested elaborate meals when they were entertaining young ladies.  When the 442nd was stationed in northern Italy, Endo met the love of his life, Giovanna Dal Canton of Brescia, Italy. She was 18 at the time and he was 28. They dated for a year or so.  Meanwhile, the war was coming to an end, but Endo did not want to leave Italy.  He particularly didn't want to leave Giovanna.  So, evening though his tour of duty was nearly over, he re-enlisted and was allowed to stay in Italy during the reconstruction.  He planned to take Giovanna to America and proposed to her.  Cutting through the Army's strict rules against fraternizing with local women was daunting.  It took months for Endo to obtain permission to wed Giovanna. With two of his fellow soldiers with the 100th Battalion standing as witnesses, Masami and Giovanna were married on Sept. 30, 1946.  Two years later, they were on ship to the New York with their baby daughter, Elena "Ellen" Rafaella Endo.  Masami was elevated to Master Sergeant and stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, and Port Townsend, Washington.  Their second daughter Barbara Patrizia Endo was born April 10, 1948.  Masami re-enlisted again just as the Korean War broke out. In all, he served 11 years in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He and Giovanna were married 50 years and had six grandchildren: Stephanie, J.P., Ai, Sachi, Elena, and Joseph. They had five great grandchildren: Christian, Heiwa, Logan, Hakuwa, and Sofia.

Sergeant Masami Endo pauses while serving in Italy.

MASAMI ENDO

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