b. 16/07/1916 Waipahu, Hawaii. d. 01/12/1943 near Cerasuolo, Italy.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/11/1943 near Cerusuolo, Italy.
Mikio Hasemoto MOH
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. A Japanese-American native of Hawaii, he received the award posthumously (presented to his sister, Mitsuko Tanaka) from President Bill Clinton at the White House on June 21, 2000 for his actions as a private with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, US Army, on on November 29, 1943, near Castelnuovo, Italy. He joined the US Army in June 1941, prior to the US entry into World War II and following his recruit and combat training, he was assigned to the 100th Infantry Battalion that was comprised of mostly soldiers of Japanese descent. His unit was sent to the European Theater of Operations where he saw action in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. On that day, while participating in combat, he was killed while repelling an attack against numerically superior German forces. He was originally awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism. However, following a review in the late 1990s of Distinguished Service Cross awards to Japanese American soldiers, his award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.Private Mikio Hasemoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 November 1943, in the vicinity of Cerasuolo, Italy. A force of approximately 40 enemy soldiers, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, rifles, and grenades, attacked the left flank of his platoon. Two enemy soldiers with machine guns advanced forward firing their weapons. Private Hasemoto, an automatic rifleman, challenged these two machine gunners. After firing four magizines at the approaching enemy, his weapon was shot and damaged. Unhesitatingly, he ran 10 yards to the rear, secured another automatic rifle and continued to fire until his weapon jammed. At this point, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader had killed approximately 20 enemy soldiers. Again, Private Hasemoto ran through a barrage of enemy machine gun fire to pick up an M-1 rifle. Continuing their fire, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader killed 10 more enemy soldiers. With only three enemy soldiers left, he and his squad leader charged courageously forward, killing one, wounding one, and capturing another. The following day, Private Hasemoto continued to repel enemy attacks until he was killed by enemy fire. Private Hasemoto’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.
BURIAL LOCATION: NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, HONOLULU, HAWAII.
SECTION D, GRAVE 338.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
