Years of service 1943 - 1944 Name Joe Nishimoto | Rank Private First Class Unit 442nd Infantry Regiment | |
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Born February 21, 1919Fresno, California ( 1919-02-21 ) | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto (February 21, 1919 – November 15, 1944) was a United States Army soldier. He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.
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Early life
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas,
Soldier
Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943.
Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.
For his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.
Medal of Honor citation
Nishimoto's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944.
Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Private First Class Nishimoto'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.