James K. Okubo: Difference between revisions
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|born= {{birth date|1920|5|30}} |
|born= {{birth date|1920|5|30}} |
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|died= {{death date and age|1967|1|29|1920|5|30}} |
|died= {{death date and age|1967|1|29|1920|5|30}} |
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|placeofbirth=Bellingham Washington |
|placeofbirth= [[Bellingham Washington]] |
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|placeofdeath= |
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|placeofburial= Woodlawn Cemetery, [[Detroit, Michigan]] |
|placeofburial= Woodlawn Cemetery, [[Detroit, Michigan]] |
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Okubo left the Army while still a technician fifth grade. He died at age 46 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, [[Detroit, Michigan]]. |
Okubo left the Army while still a technician fifth grade. He died at age 46 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, [[Detroit, Michigan]]. |
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A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who were decorated in World War II led to Okubo being awarded the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the [[White House]] on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President [[Bill Clinton]]. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously. He is interred at [[Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)| |
A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who were decorated in World War II led to Okubo being awarded the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the [[White House]] on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President [[Bill Clinton]]. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously. He is interred at [[Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)|Woodlawn Cemetery]]. |
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==Medal of Honor citation== |
==Medal of Honor citation== |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{portal|World War II}} |
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{{portal|United States Army|United States Department of the Army Seal.svg}} |
{{portal|United States Army|United States Department of the Army Seal.svg}} |
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*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients]] |
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients]] |
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*{{cite web | last = Kakesako | first = Gregg | title=AJA medic’s medal may be upgraded: 'The late James K. Okubo of the 442nd is on track for the Medal of Honor|url=http://starbulletin.com/1999/09/15/news/story6.html| date=1999-09-15}} |
*{{cite web | last = Kakesako | first = Gregg | title=AJA medic’s medal may be upgraded: 'The late James K. Okubo of the 442nd is on track for the Medal of Honor|url=http://starbulletin.com/1999/09/15/news/story6.html| date=1999-09-15}} |
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[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]] |
[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]] |
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[[Category:Army Medal of Honor recipients]] |
[[Category:Army Medal of Honor recipients]] |
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Revision as of 22:04, 5 January 2009
James K. Okubo | |
|---|---|
| Place of burial | Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Rank | Technician Fifth Grade |
| Unit | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star |
James K. Okubo (May 30, 1920 – January 29, 1967) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Okubo was interned with his family at the Heart Mountain War Relocation Center in Wyoming.[1]
On October 28, 1944, Okubo was a technician fifth grade serving as a combat medic in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. During a battle on that day and the following day, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ near Biffontaine, France, he carried wounded soldiers to safety and treated over two dozen men despite intense enemy fire. One week later, on November 4, he again braved enemy fire to rescue a man from a burning tank. For his actions, Okubo was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but was instead given the Silver Star under the mistaken belief that medics were not eligible for higher awards.
Okubo left the Army while still a technician fifth grade. He died at age 46 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.
A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who were decorated in World War II led to Okubo being awarded the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Okubo's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo'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.
See also
References
- ^ "Medal of Honor: James Okubo". Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- James K. Okubo at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2007-11-20
- "Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (M-S)". Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History. July 16, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- Williams, Rudi (May 19, 2000). "21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor". American Forces Press Service. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- Kakesako, Gregg (1999-09-15). "AJA medic's medal may be upgraded: 'The late James K. Okubo of the 442nd is on track for the Medal of Honor".