Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    52d Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AW) Battalion (SP)

    Division:

    24th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    July 5, 1950

    Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 105 (March 28, 1952), Amended by G.O. 142 (1952)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Rodney Nariyuki Hamaguchi (ASN: RA-29051723), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Service Battery, 52d Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, near Osan, Korea, on 5 July 1950. He was serving with an infantry unit when the element was savagely attacked by a numerically superior force. So intense and surprising was the assault that a large group of the friendly troops was soon surrounded and all possible avenues of escape were cut off by enemy road blocks. Although he was in a relatively safe position outside the encirclement, Private Hamaguchi volunteered to go forward with a machine gun crew to break up the road blocks. Although outnumbered twenty-to-one, he engaged the hostile soldiers in a fierce fire fight, exposing himself repeatedly as he fought and succeeded in dispersing the enemy and opening a safe route of withdrawal for his comrades. When last seen, he was firing his machine gun at harassing enemy snipers. Private Hamaguchi’s gallant actions, indomitable fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Army Artillery.