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Wednesday, June 21, 2000



Awards and honors

The 442nd RCT and 100th Battalion earned 18,142 individual decorations for valor. The numbers below denote how many medals they were awarded. They also received numerous other medals for valor, including 28 Oak Leaf Clusters (in lieu of a second Silver Star), 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters (in lieu of a second Bronze Star), 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 12 French Croix de Guerre with two Palms representing second awards, two Italian Crosses for Military Merit and two Italian Medals for Military Valor:

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21

Medal of Honor


Awarded by the President in the name of the Congress. The deed performed must display personal bravery or self sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof is required.

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33

Distinguished Service Cross


Awarded for extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor. The act or acts must have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her fellow soldiers.

Note: Nineteen previously awarded Distinguished Service Crosses have been upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

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559

Silver Star


Awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Distinguished Service Cross, must have been performed with remarked distinction.

Note: One previously awarded Silver Star has been upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

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4,000

Bronze Star


Awarded for achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. The acts or heroism are of lesser degree than required for the Silver Star.

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9,486

Purple Heart


Awarded to a person who is a member of the armed forces at the time the person is killed or wounded against an enemy.

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Also honored...

Other soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor today are:

George Sakato, Oct. 29, 1944, Biffontaine, France: His squad pinned down, he rose and led a charge that destroyed a German stronghold.
RANK: PRIVATE -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: DENVER

Rudolph Davila, May 28, 1944, Artena, Italy: Saved 130 riflemen by silencing several machine guns.
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT -- UNIT: THIRD ARMY -- HOMETOWN: VISTA, CALIF.

Frank Ono, July 4, 1944, Castellina, Italy: Took out a machine-gun nest, killed a sniper and helped rescue a wounded leader. Posthumous.
RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: NORTH JUDSON, IND.

Kiyoshi Muranaga, June 26, 1944, Suvereto, Italy: Manning a 60-mm mortar alone, he produced such accurate fire that the enemy's anti-personnel and anti-tank 88-mm gun withdrew. Posthumous.
RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: AMECHE, COLO.

Joe Hayashi, April 22, 1945, near Mt. Nebbione, Italy: Killed while knocking out two machine-gun nests.
RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: PASADENA, CALIF.

William Nakamura, July 4, 1944, Castellina, Italy: Attacked a machine-gun nest that pinned down his platoon and was killed when the Germans attacked his platoon as it withdrew.
RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: HUNT, IDAHO

Kazuo Otani, July 15, 1944, Pieve di S. Luce, Italy: While covering his platoon, he drew enemy fire and fought off a German counterattack. Killed while dressing the wounds of a fellow soldier.
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: VISALIA, CALIF.

Joe Nishimoto, Nov. 7, 1944, La Housssiere, France: Killed after being responsible for breaking a three-day stalemate against German forces.
RANK: PRIVATE -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: FRESNO, CALIF.

Ted Tanouye, July 7, 1944, Molina A Ventoabbto, Italy: Wounded in the battle, he stayed through several firefights. Later died of his wounds.
RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: TORRANCE, CALIF.

James K. Okubo, Oct. 1944, Vosges Mountains, France: Over several days, rescued and delivered aid to soldiers of the Texas "Lost Battalion."
RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: BELLINGHAM, WASH.



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