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Medal of Honor Awardee of the Day:
Joe M. Nishimoto
"Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto (February 21, 1919 – November 15, 1944) was a United States Army soldier. He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.[1]
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas,[2]
Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943.[3]
Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion.[4] This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.[5]
For his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross.[6] He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.
Medal of Honor Citation:
Nishimoto's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944.[1]
Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor Citation reads:
Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Private First Class Nishimoto's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.[7]"
Joe M. Nishimoto
"Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto (February 21, 1919 – November 15, 1944) was a United States Army soldier. He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.[1]
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas,[2]
Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943.[3]
Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion.[4] This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.[5]
For his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross.[6] He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.
Medal of Honor Citation:
Nishimoto's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944.[1]
Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor Citation reads:
Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Private First Class Nishimoto's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.[7]"
Joe M. Nishimoto - Wikipedia
Posted from en.m.wikipedia.org
Medal of Honor
American History
Military History
Awards
Valor
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
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Excellent share, I'm betting there were one or two who objected to him receiving MOH due to his heritage.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
1stSgt Nelson Kerr Can't argue that one bit, know how my parents felt about Japaneese to the point I didn't want to let them know I had bought a Japaneese car in 70s.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - My kids are half Asian, some of the bigotry is still the quite a bit of it in some places.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
1stSgt Nelson Kerr Sadly I'm afraid there will always be people who are out and out bigots.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Mad now when you call them out on it they call you Polticslly Correct.
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One of many Nisei heroes of the 442nd RCT. Many like him fought like wildcats while their families were in Japanese Internment Camps. Their motto was "Go For Broke". Thanks for sharing.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
MAJ Ken Landgren - I agree with your impression, and it placed them in the fights that led to their distinction. They were given the toughest missions from Anzio on. 21 MOHs and many more awards made them the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare.
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