Updated: 05 August, 2005
Hawaii
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Orders and Decorations of Hawaii Christopher
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(Kindom of Hawaii) Yuri Yashnev
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21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor Twenty-one Asian American World War II heroes are scheduled to have their wartime Distinguished Service Crosses upgraded to Medals of Honor during White House ceremonies. Seven of the 21 recipients are still living. They are: Rudolph B. Davila of Vista, Calif.; Barney F. Hajiro of Waipahu, Hawaii; Shizuya Hayashi of Pearl City, Hawaii; U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Honolulu, Hawaii; Yeiki Kobashigawa of Hawaii (city not available); Yukio Okutsu of Hilo, Hawaii; and George T. Sakato of Denver. The Distinguished Service Cross was conferred on 11 of the heroes posthumously. The remaining three have died since the war. President Clinton approved the Army's recommendations for the upgrades on May 12. Nineteen of the 21 veterans were members of the all-Japanese 100th Infantry Battalion or 442nd Regimental Combat Team -- for their size, among the most highly decorated units in U.S. military history. The 100th, comprised mostly of Japanese American National Guardsmen from Hawaii, was the first all-Japanese American combat unit. While the 442nd was being formed in 1943, the 100th Battalion was already fighting in Italy. The 100th merged into the 442nd in 1944 and became the regiment's first battalion though it retained its unit designation. Defense Link 19 May 2000 |
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Orders, Decorations and Medals of Hawaii Megan Robertson |
Ribbons of Hawaii Antonio Prieto
Orders, Decorations, Medals: Hawaii Antiques A to Z
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Medal of Valor dedicated at Tomb of the Unknowns Gov. Benjamin J. Cayetano, Hawaii's veterans organizations representatives, and National Guard members dedicated the State of Hawaii Medal of Valor, on behalf of the people of Hawaii, at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Hawaii citizens (military and civilian) are eligible for the Medal of Valor for performing an uncommon act of personal heroism involving the voluntary risk of his/her own life, or for a self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to be distinctly above and beyond the call of duty. Medal of Valor Hawaii Jun 2002
