6/21/2000	President Clinton announces award of Medal of Honor to 100th/442nd RCT List of recipients of Medal of Honor upgraded from Distinguished Service Cross from the 100th Bat./442nd RCT: Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu, Second lieutenant, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on April 21, 1945 at San Terenzo, Italy. In attacking a fortified ridge guarding an important road juncture in the Po Valley, Inouye directed his platoon through a hail of gunfire, captured an artillery and mortar observation post, and brought his men to within 40 yards of the main enemy force. Although wounded in the stomach by a sniper's bullet, he continued to rake other positions until his right arm was shattered by an exploding German rifle grenade. He pried a grenade he was about to throw from his right hand, and tossed it with his left hand. Kaoru Moto (Makawao, Maui,  Private First Class, C Company, 100th Battalion) on July 7, 1944 at Castellina, Italy. Attacked a machine-gun nest, took a prisoner, then captured a house used as an observation post. Wounded, he continued to defend the position from being retaken by the Germans. Later, he spotted another machine-gun nest and opened fire, wounding two Germans and capturing several others. Died in 1992. Yukio Okutsu (Hilo, Hawaii, Technical sergeant, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on April 7, 1945, at Mt. Belvedere, Italy. While his platoon was bogged down by fire from three machine guns, Okutsu crawled to within 30 yards of the nearest nest through heavy fire. He stood up, hurled two grenades at the nest, killing three machine-gunners. Crawling and dashing from cover to cover, he again stood up and threw a grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding two Germans and forcing two others to surrender. Seeing a third nest, he again moved forward through small arms fire and was stunned momentarily by a shot that glanced off his helmet. Recovering, he charged several German riflemen with his submachine gun, forcing them to withdraw. Then, rushing the machine-gun nest from the flank, he captured the weapon and its crew of four, allowing his platoon to resume its assault. Robert Kuroda (Aiea, Staff sergeant, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on Oct. 20, 1944 at Bruyeres, France. Attacked a machine-gun nest, killing three Germans with a grenade, and killed or wounded three others with his rifle. Killed by a sniper while advancing on a second machine-gun nest. Posthumous. Yeiki Kobashigawa (Waianae, Technical sergeant, B Company, 100th Battalion) on June 2, 1944 at Lanuvio, Italy. During an attack, his platoon came across a series of German machine-gun nests. Spotting one 50 yards away, he crawled forward with one of his men, threw a grenade and then charged with his submachine gun while his companion provided covering fire.  He killed one German and captured two. Kobashigawa and his comrade were fired on by another machine gun 50 yards to their front. Directing a squad to advance to his first position, he again moved forward with his companion to subdue the second machine-gun nest. After throwing grenades into the position, Kobashigawa provided close supporting fire while his fellow soldier charged. Four prisoners were captured. On the alert for other nests, he discovered four more machine guns and skillfully lead a squad in neutralizing two of them. Barney Hajiro (Waipahu, Private First Class, I Company, 3rd Battalion, 442nd RCT), on Oct. 29, 1944 at Bruyeres and Biffontaine, France. Hajiro, acting as a security guard on top of an embankment, observed a friendly unit under attack in a house 200 yards away. He directed fire at the enemy stronghold, and, disregarding personal danger, fired three bursts at two snipers, killing or wounding them. He volunteered for outpost security when I Company held a forward attack position on a ridge east of Belmont. Together with his squad leader, they captured two light machine guns, two automatic rifles, four pistols, 10 rifles and a number of grenades.  By his intrepid conduct, he was a defensive factor in the capture of "Suicide Hill." Masato Nakae (Honolulu, Private First Class, A Company, 100th Battalion) on Aug. 19, 1944 at Pisa, Italy. Defending an outpost position, Nakae held back a probe by German forces. Wounded during a mortar barrage, he refused to leave and continued to fire, forcing the Germans to withdraw. Died in 1998. Shinyei Nakamine (Waianae, Private, B Company, 100th Battalion) on June 2, 1944 at La Torreto, Italy. Killed three Germans and captured two in taking out a machine-gun nest. Later in the day, he led another attack that took out another machine-gun nest. Spotting a third machine-gun emplacement, he led another charge and was killed.  Posthumous. Mikio Hasemoto (Honolulu, Private, B Company, 100th Battalion) on Nov. 23, 1943 at Cerasuolo, Italy. Killed fighting with Ohata. Responsible for killing 27 Germans in one battle and wounding three. Posthumous. Shizuya Hayashi (Pearl City, Private, A Company, 100th Battalion) on Nov. 29, 1943 at Cerasuolo, Italy. During an assault on high ground held by the Germans, Hayashi rose alone in the face of grenade, rifle and machine- gun fire, fired his automatic weapon from the hip with the aid of a shoulder sling, and charged the machine-gun nest. He took the position, killing seven men and two more as they fled.  After a platoon advance of 200 yards from his point, an enemy anti-aircraft position opened fire on the platoon. Hayashi returned fire, killing nine, taking four prisoners and forcing the remainder of the force to flee from the hill. 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: Co. E, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: DENVER  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: Co. G, 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: Co. F, 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: Co. K, 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: Co. G, 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: Co. G, 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: Co. G, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: FRESNO, CALIF. Ted Tanouye, July 7, 1944, Molina A Ventoabbto, Italy: Wounded in the battle, he stayed through several fire fights. Later died of his wounds. RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT -- UNIT: Co. K, 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. Ohata, Allan M. November 29-30, 1943, Cerasuolo, Italy, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate).  Citation:  Sergeant Allan M. Ohata distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 and 30 November 1943, near Cerasuolo, Italy. Sergeant Ohata, his squad leader, and three men were ordered to protect his platoon’s left flank against an attacking enemy force of 40 men, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, and rifles. He posted one of his men, an automatic rifleman, on the extreme left, 15 yards from his own position. Taking his position, Sergeant Ohata delivered effective fire against the advancing enemy. The man to his left called for assistance when his automatic rifle was shot and damaged. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Ohata left his position and advanced 15 yards through heavy machine gun fire. Reaching his comrade’s position, he immediately fired upon the enemy, killing 10 enemy soldiers and successfully covering his comrade’s withdrawal to replace his damaged weapon. Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman held their position and killed 37 enemy soldiers. Both men then charged the three remaining soldiers and captured them. Later, Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman stopped another attacking force of 14, killing four and wounding three while the others fled. The following day he and the automatic rifleman held their flank with grim determination and staved off all attacks.
	Prior to June 21, 2000, only 1 Medal of Honor was awarded to the 100th/442nd. PFC Sadao S. Munemori awarded the MOH, posthumously, March 13, 1946.  Making a frontal, one-man attack through heavy fire on a machine gun nest, he made his way back to his squad. Nearing the crater were his squad remained, a grenade bounced off his helmet and rolled into a crater where two members of his squad were located.  Without hesitation he dove on the grenade and smothered the explosion killing himself instantly.  PFC Akira Shishido suffered a concussion, Pvt Jimi Oda received a fragment of the grenade in the eye.  By his swift and supremely heroic actions he saved the lives of two of his men at the cost of his own.  He also did much to clear the path for his company to later advance further.