Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on April 5, 1945 near Seravezza, Italy during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. Munemori was 22 years old.
Munemori was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 13, 1946.
Munemori was born on August 17, 1922 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His medal is held by National Museum of the U.S. Army, Fort Belvoir, VA.
Munemori is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy's strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machine guns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile, and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved two of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (April 5, 1945).
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: Evergreen Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Abraham Lincoln High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- August 17, 1922Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
- April 5, 1945Act of valor — near Seravezza, ItalyAge 22. Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- March 13, 1946Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeteryLos Angeles, California
Biography
Sadao Munemori (Japanese: 旨森 貞夫, August 17, 1922 – April 5, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, after he sacrificed his life to save those of his fellow soldiers at Seravezza, Italy during World War II. Munemori was a private first class in the United States Army, in Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. For his actions, when the 442nd was part of the 92d Infantry Division, he was the only Japanese American to be awarded the Medal of Honor during or immediately after World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Sadao Munemori”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
