Private Joe Hayashi, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on April 22, 1945 near Tendola, Italy during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company K, 442d Regimental Combat Team. Hayashi was 24 years old.
Hayashi was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 21, 2000, 55 years after the action — the White House - presented by President William J. Clinton to his family.
Hayashi was born on August 14, 1920 in Salinas, Monterey County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cody, Park County, Wyoming. He is buried at Evergreen Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
Hayashi is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 4 credited to Wyoming.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Private Joe Hayashi distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 20 and 22 April 1945, near Tendola, Italy. On 20 April 1945, ordered to attack a strongly defended hill that commanded all approaches to the village of Tendola, Private Hayashi skillfully led his men to a point within 75 yards of enemy positions before they were detected and fired upon. After dragging his wounded comrades to safety, he returned alone and exposed himself to small arms fire in order to direct and adjust mortar fire against hostile emplacements. Boldly attacking the hill with the remaining men of his squad, he attained his objective and discovered that the mortars had neutralized three machine guns, killed 27 men, and wounded many others. On 22 April 1945, attacking the village of Tendola, Private Hayashi maneuvered his squad up a steep, terraced hill to within 100 yards of the enemy. Crawling under intense fire to a hostile machine gun position, he threw a grenade, killing one enemy soldier and forcing the other members of the gun crew to surrender. Seeing four enemy machine guns delivering deadly fire upon other elements of his platoon, he threw another grenade, destroying a machine gun nest. He then crawled to the right flank of another machine gun position where he killed four enemy soldiers and forced the others to flee. Attempting to pursue the enemy, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine pistol fire. The dauntless courage and exemplary leadership of Private Hayashi enabled his company to attain its objective. Private Hayashi'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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Attempting to pursue the enemy, he was mortally wounded by a burst of machine pistol fire.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (April 22, 1945).
- Manner of death: homicide
- Age at death: 24
- Resting place: Evergreen Memorial Park
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wyoming →
Timeline
- August 14, 1920Born in Salinas, Monterey County, California
- April 22, 1945Act of valor — near Tendola, ItalyAge 24. Company K, 442d Regimental Combat Team Killed in action.
- June 21, 2000Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House - presented by President William J. Clinton to his family
- Resting placeEvergreen Memorial ParkLos Angeles, California
Biography
Joe Ryo Hayashi (Japanese: 林 良, August 14, 1920 – April 22, 1945) was a United States Army soldier. He is best known as a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Joe Hayashi”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
