At War: The 100th and 442nd

Staff Sgt. Rudolph Davila

7th Infantry

California

Protected a company of 130 men caught in the open by heavy German fire and later silenced two enemy machine guns at Artena, Italy, on May 28, 1944.

"When he received a painful shell wound in the leg, he dashed to a burned tank and, despite the crash of bullets on the hull, fired at a second enemy force from its turret."

Pvt. Shizuya Hayashi 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii Charged up a hill toward German positions, killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured four near Cerasuolo, Italy, on Nov. 29, 1943. "The courage, superb marksmanship and indomitable determination displayed by Private Hayashi reflect the finest traditions of the armed forces of the United States."

1st Lt. Daniel Inouye 442nd Regimental Combat Team Hawaii Despite multiple wounds, crawled up a hill and used grenades and his submachine gun to knock out three German machine-gun nests near San Terenzo, Italy, on April 21, 1945. "With complete disregard for personal danger, First Lieutenant Inouye boldly crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement."

Tech. Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii Led his platoon in destroying four German machine-gun positions near Lanuvio, Italy, on June 2, 1944. "The courage and initiative displayed by Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa enabled his company to reach its objective, and his fighting spirit reflects the heroic traditions of the Army of the United States."

Tech. Sgt. Yukio Okutsu 442nd Regimental Combat Team Hawaii Used grenades and his submachine gun to neutralize three German machine-gun positions on Mount Belvedere in Italy on April 7, 1945. "Crawling and dashing from cover to cover, he again exposed himself and threw a grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding two Germans and forcing two others to surrender."

Pvt. George T. Sakato

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Arizona

Killed five Germans and captured four as he charged enemy positions that had pinned down his platoon at Biffontaine, France, on Oct. 29, 1944.

"By always scorning the enemy fire and by his gallant courage and fighting spirit, he turned impending disaster into victory and helped his platoon complete its mission."

Pvt. Mikio Hasemoto 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii Killed 27 Germans in one battle and four in another in Cerasuolo, Italy, on Nov. 29, 1943. "After firing four magazines at the approaching enemy, his weapon was shot and damaged. Unhesitatingly, he ran ten yards to the rear, secured another automatic rifle and continued to fire until his weapon jammed."

Pvt. Joe Hayashi

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Wyoming

Knocked out two machine guns before being killed in Tendola, Italy, on April 22, 1945.

"Attempting to pursue the enemy, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine pistol fire."

Staff Sgt. Robert T. Kuroda 442nd Regimental Combat Team Hawaii Killed by a sniper while rescuing a party of litter-bearers removing wounded soldiers in Bruyeres, France, on Oct. 20, 1944. "Picking up a submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward the second machine-gun emplacement and neutralized the position. As he turned to fire upon supporting riflemen, he was killed instantly by a sniper."

Pfc. Kaoru Moto 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii Attacked a machine-gun nest and took over a house used as an observation post, defending it despite wounds in Castellina, Italy, on July 7, 1944. "Private First Class Moto’s exceptional courage, initiative and determination to destroy the enemy inspired confidence in his fellow soldiers ..."

Pfc. Kiyoshi Muranaga

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Colorado

Used a mortar with such accuracy and intensity that the Germans withdrew an anti-tank 88mm gun in Suvereto, Italy, on June 26, 1944.

"Before Private First Class Muranaga could fire a fourth round, an 88mm shell scored a direct hit on his position, killing him instantly."

Pvt. Masato Nakae 100th Infantry Battalion Honolulu Defended an outpost position in Pisa, Italy, on Aug. 19, 1944. "Despite his injury, however, he refused to surrender his position and continued firing at the advancing enemy."

Pvt. Shinyei Nakamine 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii Killed attacking machine-gun nests in La Torreto, Italy, on June 2, 1944. "Reaching a point 25 yards from the enemy, he stood up, and firing his submachine gun, charged the machine-gun nest."

Pfc. William K. Nakamura

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Idaho

Attacked a machine-gun nest pinning down his platoon and then was killed holding off enemy gunners as his unit withdrew in Castellina, Italy, on July 4, 1944.

"Crawling to a point from which fire could be placed on the German position, Private First Class Nakamura rapidly and accurately fired clip after clip of ammunition to pin down the enemy machine gunners."

Pfc. Joe M. Nishimoto

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Ohio

Killed in action after leading a breakthrough of a three-day stalemate at La Houssiere, France, on Nov. 7, 1944.

"Private First Class Nishimoto’s heroic action in breaking the three- day stalemate and his fearlessness in the face of grave danger reflect great credit to him and the armed forces of the United States."

Sgt. Allan M. Ohata 100th Infantry Battalion Hawaii With a comrade, killed 27 Germans and took one prisoner at Cerasuolo, Italy, on Nov. 30, 1943. "With utter disregard for his personal safety, Staff Sergeant Ohata left his position and advanced 15 yards through spraying machine gunfire."

Pfc. Frank Ono

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Indiana

Took out a machine-gun nest, killed a sniper and helped rescue a wounded man at Castellina, Italy, on July 4, 1944.

"Completely disregarding his own safety, he made himself the constant target of concentrated enemy fire until the platoon reached the comparative safety of a draw."

Staff Sgt. Kazuo Otani

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Arizona

Drew enemy fire while covering his pinned-down platoon’s advance, then was killed while tending a wounded soldier at Pieve di S. Luce, Italy, on July 15, 1944.

"Dragging the wounded soldier to a shallow ditch, Staff Sergeant Otani proceeded to render first-aid treatment but was mortally wounded by machine gun fire."

Tech. Sgt. Ted T. Tanouye

442nd Regimental Combat Team

California

Although suffering near-fatal wounds, stayed with his unit through several firefights at Molina a Ventoabbto, Italy, on July 7, 1944.

"While advancing ... Technical Sergeant Tanouye was subjected to grenade bursts, and his left arm was rendered useless by a fragment."

Capt. Francis Brown Wai 34th Infantry Hawaii Killed leading a beach assault at Leyte as Gen. Douglas MacArthur returned to liberate the Philippine Islands on Oct. 20, 1944. "The men, inspired by his cool demeanor and heroic example, arose from their positions and followed him."

Tech. Sgt. James K. Okubo

442nd Regimental Combat Team

California

Okubo, a medic, risked his life while under heavy enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers on Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 4, 1944 - near Biffontaine, France.

"During a two-day period while subjected to machine gun, mortar and artillery fire and grenade bursts, he cooly and efficiently rendered first aid to 25 fellow soldiers wounded in battle."