Navy Federal Credit Union

After earning the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II, Thomas Ono subsequently served in the Korean War, where he was captured and spent two years as a Prisoner of War.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Korean War)

    Action Date:

    April 25, 1951 – August 20, 1953

    Corporal Thomas Yoshimi Ono (ASN: 30105796), United States Army, was interned as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War after he was captured on 25 April 1951 and was held until his release on 20 August 1953.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Batallion:

    100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)

    Division:

    34th Infantry Division (Attached)

    Action Date:

    June 2, 1944

    Headquarters, FIFTH U.S. Army, General Orders No. 133 (August 8, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Thomas Yoshimi Ono (ASN: 30105796), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 2 June 1944, near La Torretto, Italy. Private Ono’s squad acted as point for the leading platoon in a daylight attack. Contacting an enemy machine gun nest, Private Ono and two companions crawled two hundred yards through a wheat field toward the hostile weapon. Reaching a position ten yards from the machine gun, each man threw fragmentation grenades, killing three Germans. Another hostile position, containing two machine guns, opened fire on Private Ono and his companions. Under intense fire he and his comrades crawled toward the second position. Nearing the enemy strongpoint, Private Ono and his comrades opened fire with their rifles and threw hand grenades to kill two, wound one, and capture four Germans. Later in the day, when his platoon had reached its objective, an enemy machine gun opened fire on the units on the left flank. Again, Private Ono and his two companions crawled toward the enemy, making their way through a vineyard to a point within ten feet of the Germans. Pinning the nest with rifle fire while one member of the squad tossed hand grenades, they boldly charged the position with fixed bayonets. Private Ono and his fellow soldiers were successful in capturing eight Germans armed with two machine guns, three machine pistols and three rifles. In a period of approximately three hours, he and his companions neutralized five machine guns, five machine pistols, and killed or captured seventeen Germans. Private Ono’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.