19th MP’s building dedicated to ‘Mr. CID’
Bldg. 1411 at 1045 Kelly Road is a
newly constructed facility at South Range
19th
Military Police Battalion
(Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
(Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
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| CWO-4 George J Kinoshita |
George Kinoshita was drafted into the U.S. Army on
June 19, 1946. He honorably performed his duties as a
Soldier, initially serving in the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) in Japan. He rose in the ranks from non-commissioned officer to Chief Warrant Officer.
During the Korean War, he was
attached to the 1st Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps, and wounded in
combat during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. He was decorated for heroism with the award of the Bronze Star Medal.
The citation for the award of the
Bronze Star with “V” device, as reflected in General Orders Number 136, Oct.
26, 1956, reads as follows:
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| Awarded Bronze Star |
“Warrant Officer Junior Grade George J.
Kinoshita, W2136012, United States Army, a member of the 441st Counter
Intelligence Corps Team, is cited for heroic action against the armed enemy
near Yongsan, Korea, on 3 September 1950. While on duty with
Headquarters, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, Warrant Officer Kinoshita was on
a mission near Yongsan screening refugees. He discovered three enemy
Soldiers among the refugees. The refugees informed him that there were
others in a nearby house. Warrant Officer Kinoshita took a patrol to the
house and became engaged in a fierce fire fight. In the fight, Warrant Officer
Kinoshita killed four of the enemy and forced others to flee to a wooded
mountain area. He vigorously continued the action under fire until
seriously wounded and evacuated. The heroism displayed by Warrant Officer
Kinoshita on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and the military
service.”
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| WOJG George Kinoshita |
George Kinoshita was instrumental in
leading the professionalization and reorganization of Army Criminal
Investigation sections from the Garrison Provost Marshal Office to its
consolidation under newly formed CID Regions in 1965. This realignment
led to the centralization and creation of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation
Command in 1971.
Known affectionately as “Mr. CID,”
Kinoshita was routinely praised as an outstanding, dedicated, enthusiastic,
competent, inspiring, reliable, exceptional professional. His
promotion record is a simple indicator of his excellence and leadership abilities. He was promoted from Private to Private First Class, March 1, 1947; promoted to Corporal, April 1, 1947; promoted to Sergeant, July 1, 1947; and then, on Dec. 23, 1947, was promoted to Warrant Officer Junior Grade. He left a legacy for all agents to admire.
promotion record is a simple indicator of his excellence and leadership abilities. He was promoted from Private to Private First Class, March 1, 1947; promoted to Corporal, April 1, 1947; promoted to Sergeant, July 1, 1947; and then, on Dec. 23, 1947, was promoted to Warrant Officer Junior Grade. He left a legacy for all agents to admire.
George Kinoshita’s ties to the Pacific
Theater and the 19th Military Police Battalion’s area of operations are
numerous. His first CID assignment was with the 44th Military Police Detachment (Counter-Intelligence) in 1952 in
Japan. From 1966 to 1974, Kinoshita successively served as the Commander
of the 521st Military Police Detachment, Camp Zama, Japan; Commander of the 523rd Military Police Detachment, Korea;
and culminated his career in the Pacific stationed at Fort Shafter.
While in Hawaii, George Kinoshita served
initially in the U.S. Army-Pacific Provost Marshal Office, and then as the First
Operations officer of the newly created 4th Region (Group), U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC). His final
assignment was at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, where he served as
Operations Officer, 6th Military Police Region (Group), and then after the Commander of the
San Francisco Field Office was relieved following a failed Inspector General (IG) inspection in
1974, Kinoshita was assigned as the First Warrant Officer to command a Field Grade Command, and the office passed its re-inspection with flying colors.
Kinoshita and his wife, Chieko, had four children, Kay Kinoshita-Pawlowski, George Kinoshita Jr., Gail Nakasone,
and Marilyn Kinoshita (Morales). After military retirement, the Kinoshita
family lived in Mililani, becoming an active part of their local community.
George J. Kinoshita passed away on August 10, 1997,
and is laid to rest in the Schofield Barracks Post Cemetery. In 2008, Kinoshita
was inducted into the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USA CIDC) Hall
of Fame.
His awards and decorations:
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster with “V” device,
Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 3
Oak leaf clusters, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with
Japan Clasp, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze service star,
Korean Service Medal with one Bronze service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2nd Award), United Nations Service Medal
(with Korea clasp), Korean War Service Medal, Korean Defense Service
Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II, Expert Badge with
Pistol Bar, Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Presidential Unit
Citation with one Bronze star.
Source: http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/2015/06/09/19th-mps-building-dedicated-to-mr-cid/
