Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Saburo
Tanamachi
KIA (WWII)
1917-04-01

–

1944-10-29

Born:

Long Beach

, 

California

Home:

San Benito

, 

Texas

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Saburo Tanamachi’s buddy, Private George Sakato, Medal of Honor recipient, later wrote of this action: “He (Saburo) was shot and fell into his fox hole. I crawled out of my fox hole and into his and picked him up and held him tight and cried, ÔWhy?Õ He tried to say something, and his body went limp on me. Then I knew that he died. I was so mad and while crying, I jumped up and picked up my Thompson Submachine gun and charged up the hill running as fast as I could zigzagging all the way and firing the Thompson as I ran. We did take the hill, and I went back to Saburo and took the 1921 silver dollar that he carried and gave it back to his mother when I returned home.” For his fearless charge that day, Sakato was awarded the DSC which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    442d Regimental Combat Team

    Division:

    SEVENTH U.S. Army

    Action Date:

    October 29, 1944
    Headquarters, SEVENTH U.S. Army, General Orders No. 34 (February 5, 1945)

    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 Saburo Tanamachi (ASN: 38562665), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 442d Infantry Regiment, in action against the enemy on 29 October 1944, in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France. During a fierce enemy counterattack, Private Tanamachi, acting squad leader, crept forward, in the face of four enemy machine guns and a dozen riflemen to give aid to a wounded comrade. As he reached the wounded soldier and was about to give him first aid, Private Tanamachi was fatally wounded. Roused by the courageous example of their leader, his squad charged forward and assisted by the remainder of the platoon, overwhelmed the attacking enemy force. Private Tanamachi’s display of heroism reflects the finest traditions of the Army of the United States.