Family name/given name: Okumoto Kunichi

Born: May 28, 1900

Volunteer, Seaman

Kure Naval Base

From Yamaguchi Prefecture

Served in the IJN from Taisho 6 (1917) to Showa 15 (1940)

Served on the Kasagi class protected Cruiser Chitose, being assigned to her November 1, 1917 as a gunner until April 10, 1923.

February 12, 1918 ports of call at Dairen, Port Arthur, Tsingdao, Shanghai, Nanking, and Amoy

Chitose had further ports of call at Sandakan, Borneo, and Hong Kong. (Chitose had a directive to guard this area and area of Singapore during WW1.)

1920 received gunnery training.

Medals received while on Chitose include Sacred Treasure 8th class, and 1914 -1920 War Medal, November 1, 1920.

May 8, 1923: Transferred to The Momi-class destroyer Aoi in the position of gunner, until March 10, 1924.

Transferred back to Kure naval base; while there received the Sacred Treasure, 7th class. Entry stating that his father had passed away.

November and December of 1928, transferred to the destroyer Hagi in position of gunnery platform NCO.

November 16, 1928 received Showa Enthronement Medal

In April, 1929, assigned to the minelayer Shirataka in the position of gunnery platform NCO.

Highest ranked attained: Chief Petty Officer, in 1932.

Fulfilled term of service in 1940.

Other paperwork includes Red Cross award document, pension information, veterans organization documents and booklets, factory worker booklets and documents, and post war documents (work history document dated 1965 - Showa 40). Also includes his cloth IJN call up bag that stored his service records.

Both sailor service records were attached together with metal staples at one time, but have become separated. Staples are still present in one record and are sharp! 2nd record document is badly damaged and has been taped together post war.