Robert Kuroda graduated from Honolulu Vocational School as an electrician but was denied a job at Pearl Harbor because the Navy wasn’t hiring people of Japanese ancestry during World War II, so he joined the Army to serve in the all-Japanese 442d Regimental Combat Team. He and his brother were both awarded Distinguished Service Crosses during World War II. Only one Medal of Honor was presented to a Japanese-American soldier during World War II, despite the fact that these soldiers, despite intense prejudice at home in the USA, were among the most decorated soldiers of the war. Following a review in the late 1990s of Distinguished Service Cross awards to Japanese Americans, the DSC previously awarded to Robert Kuroda was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. The award was presented posthumously by President Bill Clinton on June 21, 2000.
Sponsored by:
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Cemetery:
Awards Received
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Medal of Honor
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Medal of Honor
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Staff SergeantBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
442d Regimental Combat TeamDivision:
36th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
October 20, 1944
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Robert Toshio Kuroda (ASN: 30104463), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 20 October 1944, near Bruyeres, France. Leading his men in an advance to destroy snipers and machine gun nests, Staff Sergeant Kuroda encountered heavy fire from enemy soldiers occupying a heavily wooded slope. Unable to pinpoint the hostile machine gun, he boldly made his way through heavy fire to the crest of the ridge. Once he located the machine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced to a point within ten yards of the nest and killed three enemy gunners with grenades. He then fired clip after clip of rifle ammunition, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy. As he expended the last of his ammunition, he observed that an American officer had been struck by a burst of fire from a hostile machine gun located on an adjacent hill. Rushing to the officer’s assistance, he found that the officer had been killed. Picking up the officer’s submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward a second machine gun emplacement and destroyed the position. As he turned to fire upon additional enemy soldiers, he was killed by a sniper. Staff Sergeant Kuroda’s courageous actions and indomitable fighting spirit ensured the destruction of enemy resistance in the sector. Staff Sergeant Kuroda’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.