Shigeichi Bob Adachi served as a Private in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT. He was born November 27, 1918, in Watsonville, California. Military records show him as Shigeichi Bob Adachi, but his middle name was Robert, and he went by Bob or Shige. His parents, Frank Jukichi and Mia (Uyeno) Adachi, immigrated from Kyoto Prefecture in 1905 and 1915, respectively. There were three daughters and two sons in the Adachi family.
Before the war, Shige worked for his father’s gardening business in San Mateo. On September 17, 1942, the family was interned at Central Utah (Topaz) WRA Internment Camp in west-central Utah. While there he met Mary Matsuura of Pleasanton, California, and they married on February 29, 1943. Eight months later his family was transferred to Tule Lake WRA in northern California. On April 13, 1944, he enlisted and on May 29 was released to Fort Douglas, Utah, where he was inducted into the U.S. Army. Seven months later his daughter was born at Topaz while Shige was in training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
Although we do not have specific records, the timing of Adachi’s enlistment and training indicate that he would have been sent post-training to join the 442nd during the Champagne Campaign as a replacement. By that time due to battle casualties there was an ongoing need for fresh soldiers to be sent from basic training to the battlefields of France. He likely participated in the Po Valley Campaign when the 442nd was sent back to Italy. Adachi was
awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service.
After the war, Adachi returned to San Mateo and was a professional gardener. He died on December 29, 1976, in San Mateo, and was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
His brother Royichi (Roy) Adachi served as a Staff Sergeant in B Battery, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 442nd RCT.