Navy Federal Credit Union

Sadao Munemori was the ONLY Japanese-American awarded the Medal of Honor during or immediately after World War II. With prejudice still strong, it required intervention by Congress to at last see him posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In 2001, after review of the citations for the Distinguished Service Cross to other Japanese-American soldiers of World War II, 22 of his comrades saw their awards upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    100th Infantry Battalion

    Regiment:

    442d Regimental Combat Team

    Division:

    92d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 5, 1945

    War Department, General Orders No. 24 (March 7, 1946)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori (ASN: 39019023), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 92d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 5 April 1945. Private First Class Munemori fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy’s strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machineguns with grenades Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Private First Class Munemori saved two of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company’s victorious advance.