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George Shibata
George Shibata (Japanese: 柴田 穣次, November 14, 1926 – May 20, 1987) was an American military officer, attorney, and film & television actor. He was the first Japanese American graduate of any of the United States Service Academies, graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946, and in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer from 1951 to 1955, as a fighter pilot.
After leaving Regular Air Force service, Shibata embarked on a civilian career as an attorney, and later as a motion picture and television actor. He was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lt. Suki Ohashi in the 1959 film Pork Chop Hill, which starred Gregory Peck as Joseph G. Clemons, his real-life former West Point classmate.
Shibata was born in 1926, the youngest of nine children, to immigrant Issei parents in Garland, Utah, where a Japanese farming community had established itself at the turn of the 20th century. By his own admission an indifferent student, Shibata diverted his childhood attention to sports (football, basketball and track) and riding horses (including rodeo) in the farming communities around Garland.
Despite such distractions, he demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics and science, graduating in 1944 with solid grades from Bear River High School in Tremonton, Utah. Shibata then enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) (also known as A-12) officer training program at the University of Idaho and Amherst College. He soon grew restless, however, and in January 1945, he enlisted for active duty as a U.S Army paratrooper.
After jump training, he deployed to Europe in August 1945. He served post-war occupation duties in Germany for 18 months with the 82nd Airborne Division and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Returning to Garland, Shibata sought an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While previously on active duty, he had passed an admissions examination for enlisted soldiers, but was placed on a long waiting list. In 1946, Shibata garnered a nomination from Senator Elbert Thomas. Enrolling the following year, Shibata found himself together with other Plebes (freshmen) who also had prior military service, many of whom had seen combat in World War II.
Despite the homogeneous racial makeup of the Corps of Cadets at that time, Shibata became friends with many of his classmates, gaining a colorful reputation as a cadet who was "always ready for a good time." He even served as best man at the wedding of a roommate who was the scion of a prominent family in the deep South.
Shibata partially credited his popularity to trying out for the West Point sports (track and football) teams during his Plebe year, although injuries sidelined him during his sophomore year.
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George Shibata
George Shibata (Japanese: 柴田 穣次, November 14, 1926 – May 20, 1987) was an American military officer, attorney, and film & television actor. He was the first Japanese American graduate of any of the United States Service Academies, graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946, and in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer from 1951 to 1955, as a fighter pilot.
After leaving Regular Air Force service, Shibata embarked on a civilian career as an attorney, and later as a motion picture and television actor. He was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lt. Suki Ohashi in the 1959 film Pork Chop Hill, which starred Gregory Peck as Joseph G. Clemons, his real-life former West Point classmate.
Shibata was born in 1926, the youngest of nine children, to immigrant Issei parents in Garland, Utah, where a Japanese farming community had established itself at the turn of the 20th century. By his own admission an indifferent student, Shibata diverted his childhood attention to sports (football, basketball and track) and riding horses (including rodeo) in the farming communities around Garland.
Despite such distractions, he demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics and science, graduating in 1944 with solid grades from Bear River High School in Tremonton, Utah. Shibata then enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) (also known as A-12) officer training program at the University of Idaho and Amherst College. He soon grew restless, however, and in January 1945, he enlisted for active duty as a U.S Army paratrooper.
After jump training, he deployed to Europe in August 1945. He served post-war occupation duties in Germany for 18 months with the 82nd Airborne Division and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Returning to Garland, Shibata sought an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While previously on active duty, he had passed an admissions examination for enlisted soldiers, but was placed on a long waiting list. In 1946, Shibata garnered a nomination from Senator Elbert Thomas. Enrolling the following year, Shibata found himself together with other Plebes (freshmen) who also had prior military service, many of whom had seen combat in World War II.
Despite the homogeneous racial makeup of the Corps of Cadets at that time, Shibata became friends with many of his classmates, gaining a colorful reputation as a cadet who was "always ready for a good time." He even served as best man at the wedding of a roommate who was the scion of a prominent family in the deep South.
Shibata partially credited his popularity to trying out for the West Point sports (track and football) teams during his Plebe year, although injuries sidelined him during his sophomore year.