Asian-American
Recipients
Listed Chronologically By War
A Hall Of Heroes E-Book
By C. Douglas Sterner
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Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Philippine American War
Jose B. Nisperos
Private, U.S. Army
Born: December 30, 1887 at San Fernandos Union, Philippine Islands
Entered Service: San Fernandos Union, Philippine Islands
Date/Place of Action: September 24, 1911 - Lapurap, Basilan Island, P.I.
Unit: 34th Company, Philippine Scouts
Presentation: Presented On the Parade Grounds, Manila, Philippine Islands By Mrs. J.
Franklin Bell, wife of the commanding officer on February 03, 1913
Date of Death: September 01, 1922
Buried at: New Municipal Cemetery - San Fernandos Union, Philippine Islands
Peace Time Heroism
Telesfordo De La Cruz Trinidad
Fireman Second Class, U.S. Navy
Born: November 25, 1890 at New Washington, Philippine Islands
Entered Service: Philippine Islands
Date/Place of Action: January 21, 1915 - Aboard Ship, At Sea
Unit: U.S.S. San Diego
Presentation: Presented in August, 1915
Date of Death: May 08, 1968
Buried at: Imus Cemetery - Imus, Cavite, Philippine Islands
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 1
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
During and immediately after World War II, only two Asian-Americans were awarded
Medals of Honor: Philippine Scout Jose Calugas and Nisei hero Sadao Munemori of the 34th
Infantry Division. Meanwhile, the all Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd
Regimental Combat Team generated an unprecedented record of valor, earning 33 Distinguished
Service Crosses, 559 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, nearly 10,000 Purple Hearts and EIGHT
Presidential Unit Citations. Fifty years after the war, Congress ordered a review of all high
awards to these brave soldiers to determine if some of them should have received the Medal of
Honor. Following the review, 22 Asian-Americans saw their awards upgraded to Medals of
Honor. All but two of these awards went to men of the 100th Infantry (known as the Purple Heart
Battalion) or its parent 442nd RCT known as the Go For Broke Regiment. On June 21, 2000
President William Clinton presented Medals of Honor to seven of these heroes who were still
living, and to family members of the other fifteen.
Jose Calugas
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: December 29, 1907 at Barrio Tagsing, Leon, Iloilo, Philippine Islands
Entered Service: Fort Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands
Date/Place of Action: January 16, 1942 - Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands
Unit: Philippine Scouts, Battery B, 1st Bn, 88th Field Artillery, 23d Division
Presentation: Presented At Pampanga, Camp Olivas, Philippine Islands
By General George C. Marshall on April 30, 1945
Date of Death: January 18, 1998
Buried at:
Mikio Hasemoto
Private, U.S. Army
Born: July 13, 1916 at Honolulu, Hawaii
Entered Service: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: November 29, 1943 - Cerasuolo, Italy
Unit: Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: November 29, 1943 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 2
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Allan M. Ohata
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: September 13, 1918 at Honolulu, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: November 29 & 30, 1943 - Cerasuolo, Italy
Unit: Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: October 17, 1977
Buried at:
Shizuya Cesar Hayashi
Private, U.S. Army
Born: November 28, 1917 at Waiakea, Oahu, HI
Entered Service: Schofield Barracks, HI
Date/Place of Action: November 29, 1943 - Cerasuolo, Italy
Unit: Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently Living in Hawaii
Rudolph B. Davila
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: April 27, 1916 at El Paso, TX
Entered Service: Los Angeles, CA
Date/Place of Action: May 28, 1944 - Artena, Italy
Unit: Company H, 7th Infantry
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: January 26, 2002
Buried at:
Shinyei Nakamine
Private, U.S. Army
Born: January 21, 1920 at Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: June 2, 1944 - La Torreto, Italy
Unit: Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: June 2, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 3
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Yeiki Kobashigawa
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: September 28, 1917 at Hilo, HI
Entered Service: Honolulu, HI
Date/Place of Action: June 2, 1944 - Lanuvio, Italy
Unit: Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently Living in Hawaii
Kiyoshi K. Muranaga
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: February 16, 1922 at Los Angeles, CA
Entered Service: Ameche, CO
Date/Place of Action: June 26, 1944 - Suvereto, Italy
Unit: Company F, 442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: June 26, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Frank H. Ono
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: June 6, 1923 at North Judson, IN
Entered Service: Indianapolis, IN
Date/Place of Action: July 4, 1944 - Castellina, Italy
Unit: Company G, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: May 6, 1980
Buried at:
William Kenzo Nakamura
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: January 21, 1922 at Seattle, WA
Entered Service: Minidoka Relocation Center, Hunt, ID
Date/Place of Action: July 4, 1944 - Castellina, Italy
Unit: Company G, 442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: July 4, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery - Seattle, WA
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 4
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Ted T. Tanouye
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: November 14, 1919 at Torrance, CA
Entered Service: Fort MacArthur, CA
Date/Place of Action: July 7, 1944 - Molina A. Ventoabbto, Italy
Unit: Company K, 442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: October 19, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Kaoru Moto
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: April 25, 1917 at Spreckelsville, Hawaii
Entered Service: Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: July 7, 1944 - Castellina, Italy
Unit: Company C, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: August 26, 1992
Buried at: National Memorial of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
Kazuo Otani
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: June 2, 1918 at Visalia, CA
Entered Service: Rivers Relocation Center, AZ
Date/Place of Action: July 15, 1944 - Pieve di S. Luce, Italy
Unit: Company G, 442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: July 15, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Masato Nakae
Private, U.S. Army
Born: at Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: August 19, 1944 - Pisa, Italy
Unit: Company A, 100th/442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: 1998
Buried at:
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 5
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Barney F. Hahiro
Private, U.S. Army
Born: September 16, 1916 at Punene, Maui, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: October 19, 22, & 29, 1944 - Bruyeres and Biffontaine, France
Unit: Company I, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently Living In Hawaii
Robert T. Kuroda
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: November 8, 1922 at Aiea, Oahu, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: October 20, 1944 - Bruyeres, France
Unit: Company H, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: October 20, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Francis B. Wai
Captain, U.S. Army
Born: April 14, 1917 at Honolulu, Hawaii
Entered Service: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date/Place of Action: October 20, 1944 - Leyte, Philippine Islands
Unit: Headquarters, 34th Infantry
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: October 20, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: National Memorial of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
*Captain Wai is the ONLY Korean-American to receive the Medal of Honor
James K. Okubo
Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army
Born: May 30, 1920
Entered Service: Bellingham, WA
Date/Place of Action: October 28 - 29, 1944 - Biffontaine, France
Unit: 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: 1967
Buried at:
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 6
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
George T. Sakato
Private, U.S. Army
Born: February 19, 1921 at Colton, California
Entered Service: Glendale, Arizona
Date/Place of Action: October 29, 1944 - Biffontaine, France
Unit: Company E, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently Living in Colorado
Joe M. Nishimoto
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: 1920 at Fresno, CA
Entered Service: Marion, OH
Date/Place of Action: November 7, 1944 - La Houssiere, France
Unit: Company G. 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: November 15, 1944 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Sadao S. Munemori
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: August 17, 1922 at Los Angeles, CA
Entered Service: Los Angeles, CA
Date/Place of Action: April 05, 1945 - Seravezza, Italy
Unit: Company A, 100th Infantry Bn, 34th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented To His Mother on March 13, 1946
Date of Death: April 05, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: Evergreen Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA
Yukio Okutsu
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: November 3, 1921 at Koloa, Kauai, HI
Entered Service: Koloa, Kaui, HI
Date/Place of Action: April 7, 1945 - Mount Belvedere, Italy
Unit: Company F, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently Living in Hawaii
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 7
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Joe Hayashi
Private, U.S. Army
Born: August 14, 1920 at Salinas, CA
Entered Service: Pasadena, CA
Date/Place of Action: April 20 & 22, 1945 - Tendola, Italy
Unit: Company K, 442d Regimental Combat Team
Presentation: Presented To His Family At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date of Death: April 22, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried at:
Daniel K. Inouye
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Born: September 7, 1924 at Honolulu, HI
Entered Service: Honolulu, HI
Date/Place of Action: April 21, 1945 - San Terenzo, Italy
Unit: Company E, 442d Infantry
Presentation: Presented At the White House
By President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Currently serving as the U.S. Senator from Hawaii
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 8
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Hiroshi H. Miyamura
Corporal, U.S. Army
Born: October 06, 1925 at Gallup, NM
Entered Service: Gallup, NM
Date/Place of Action: April 24 & 25, 1951 - Taejon-ni, Korea
Unit: Company H, 2d Bn, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented At the White House By
President Dwight D. Eisenhower on October 27, 1953
Currently Living in New Mexico
Leroy A. Mendonca
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: August 02, 1932 at Honolulu, HI
Entered Service: Honolulu, HI
Date/Place of Action: July 04, 1951 - Chich-on, Korea
Unit: Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented To His Mother At The Pentagon
By General Omar N. Bradley on August 14, 1952
Date of Death: July 04, 1951 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
Herbert K. Pililaau
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: October 10, 1928 at Waianae, HI
Entered Service: Oahu, HI
Date/Place of Action: September 17, 1951 - Pia-ri, Korea
Unit: Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented To His Father At The Pentagon
By Secretary of the Army Frank C. Pace on March 26, 1952
Date of Death: September 17, 1951 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 9
Asian-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Elmelindo Rogrigues Smith
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: July 27, 1935 at Honolulu, HI
Entered Service: Honolulu, HI
Date/Place of Action: February 16, 1967 - Vietnam
Unit: Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented To His Family at the Pentagon
by Secretary of the Army Stanley A. Resor on October 03, 1968
Date of Death: February 16, 1967 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
Rodney James Tadashi Yano
First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: December 13, 1943 at Kealakekua Kona, HI
Entered Service: Honolulu, HI
Date/Place of Action: January 01, 1969 - Bien Hoa, Vietnam
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Presentation: Presented To His Family
At the White House By President Richard M. Nixon on April 07, 1970
Date of Death: January 01, 1969 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
Terry Teruo Kawamura
Corporal, U.S. Army
Born: December 10, 1949 at Wahiawa, HI
Entered Service: Oahu, HI
Date/Place of Action: March 20, 1969 - Camp Radcliff, Vietnam
Unit: 173d Engineer Company, 173d Airborne Brigade
Presentation: Presented To His Family
At the White House By President Richard M. Nixon on February 16, 1971
Date of Death: March 20, 1969 (Killed In Action)
Buried at: Mililani Memorial Park - Pearl City, HI
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 10
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