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442nd medic to
get Medal of Honor

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The military and the White House are working to recognize another member of the famed 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team at special Medal of Honor ceremony next week, bringing the total to 22 World War II Asian Pacific American soldiers.

On Thursday night, Congress approved legislation, authored by Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka, that upgraded the Silver Star won by James Okubo, a 442nd medic, in October 1944 to the Medal of Honor.

Okubo, a Detroit dentist who was killed in an auto accident in 1967, originally was recommended to receive the Medal of Honor by his commanding officers for heroism he displayed in rescuing and aiding his fellow soldiers in France's Vosges Mountains when the 442nd was called upon to rescue the Texas "Lost Battalion."

But the Army rejected that recommendation, saying he was not eligible because he was a medic.

"Sgt. Okubo's heroism on the battlefield is an inspiration to all who believe in duty, honor and service to one's country," Akaka said. "He takes his rightful place among America's great war heroes."

"He is a shining example of the sacrifices made by so many other Asian Pacific Americans during World War II, who served our country so ably in spite of difficulties they faced as members of a suspect minority."

Ceremony on Wednesday

Paul Cardus, Akaka spokesman, said his office expects President Clinton to sign the senator's bill on Tuesday and the Army and the White House hope to include Okubo's widow, Nobuyo, and other family members in Wednesday's ceremony.

"She (Nobuyo Okubo) shared the senator's view that he be included in the ceremony," Cardus said.

Akaka drafted legislation in 1996 requiring the military to review records of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to see if those who had received the Distinguished Service Cross should be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

The Army reviewed the records of 4,434 soldiers who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II and determined that 104 were Asian Pacific Americans. In May, Clinton approved awarding 21 of them the Medal of Honor.

Nineteen of the 21 are members of the 100th/442nd -- a highly decorated World War II combat unit that was made up mainly of second-generation Japanese Americans. Of the 21, the other two are a Filipino American from California and a Chinese-Hawaiian American from Hawaii -- Capt. Francis Wai, who was killed in the Philippines.

The military says Wednesday's White House ceremony will be the largest single group ever to be recognized for the Medal of Honor.

Earlier in the day, the seven living recipients and family members of the 15 other honorees will attend a special Arlington Cemetery wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The 22 new Medal of Honor recipients will be inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes on Thursday.