Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'Ohanohano was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 1, 1951 in Chupa-ri, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Kaho'Ohanohano was about 21 years old.
Kaho'Ohanohano was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on May 2, 2011, 59 years after the action. White House by President Barack Obama to his nephew.
Kaho'Ohanohano was born in 1930. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hawaii. He is buried at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Maui, Hawaii.
Kaho'Ohanohano is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 20 credited to Hawaii.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chupa-ri, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano was in charge of a machine-gun squad supporting the defensive positioning of Company F when a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce attack. Because of the enemy's overwhelming numbers, friendly troops were forced to execute a limited withdrawal. As the men fell back, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force. Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone. As the hostile troops concentrated their strength against his emplacement in an effort to overrun it, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano fought fiercely and courageously, delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy. Upon reaching Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's emplacement, friendly troops discovered 11 enemy soldiers lying dead in front of the emplacement and two inside it, killed in hand-to-hand combat. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 1, 1951).
- Manner of death: death in battle
- Age at death: about 21
- Resting place: Maui Veterans Cemetery
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Anthony T. Kaho'Ohanohano received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Korean War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: St. Anthony High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Hawaii →
Timeline
- 1930Born
- September 1, 1951Act of valor — Chupa-ri, KoreaAge about 21. Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- May 2, 2011Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyWhite House by President Barack Obama to his nephew
- Resting placeMaui Veterans CemeteryMaui, Hawaii
Biography
Anthony Thomas Kahoʻohanohano (July 22, 1930 – September 1, 1951) was a United States Army soldier who was killed in action on September 1, 1951, during the Korean War. He became a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “Anthony T. Kahoʻohanohano”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

