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| Tech Sergeant Ted Tanouye earns the Medal of Honor for action in Italy. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19396/ted-t_-tanouye http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2013/11/28/go-for-broke-2/ |
Ted T. Tanouye never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 14, 1919 in Torrance, California. His parents Nikuma and Momoye were both born in Japan. Nikuma came to America in 1903 and Momoye came in 1918. Ted's father worked as a farmer and had a hobby teaching Japanese sword fighting. Ted had four younger brothers and a younger sister. By 1940 Ted had completed four years of high school where he lettered each year in both football and basketball. He found work with a produce company.
He was drafted into the army on February 20, 1942. Ironically, the day before President Roosevelt issued an executive order that would forcibly remove all people of Japanese ancestry from the west coast and send them to live in relocation camps. The next day, on February 21, Ted's father was arrest as a suspected spy and was held for two months before being let go because of lack of evidence. The family ended up at Camp Jerome in Arkansas.
Sgt. Tanouye's first experience in combat was on July 4, 1944. Three days later he lead his men in a successful attack to take a needed hill north of Rome during which he was wounded. This action would one day be recognized with the Medal of Honor.
He was wounded again on September 1, 1944 while his unit was fighting near the Arno River. He died five days later on September 6, 1944.
Sgt. Tanouye was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his July heroism. His parents were still at Camp Jermone when the Army delivered Ted's medals to them. The citation reads as follows.
Technical Sergeant Tanouye led his platoon in an attack to capture the crest of a strategically important hill that afforded little cover. Observing an enemy machine gun crew placing its gun in position to his left front, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crept forward a few yards and opened fire on the position, killing or wounding three and causing two others to disperse.
Immediately, an enemy machine pistol opened fire on him. He returned the fire and killed or wounded three more enemy soldiers. While advancing forward, Technical Sergeant Tanouye was subjected to grenade bursts, which severely wounded his left arm.
Sighting an enemy-held trench, he raked the position with fire from his submachine gun and wounded several of the enemy. Running out of ammunition, he crawled 20 yards to obtain several clips from a comrade on his left flank.
Next, sighting an enemy machine pistol that had pinned down his men, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crawled forward a few yards and threw a hand grenade into the position, silencing the pistol. He then located another enemy machine gun firing down the slope of the hill, opened fire on it, and silenced that position. Drawing fire from a machine pistol nest located above him, he opened fire on it and wounded three of its occupants.
Finally taking his objective, Technical Sergeant Tanouye organized a defensive position on the reverse slope of the hill before accepting first aid treatment and evacuation.
Technical Sergeant Tanouye'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.
Thank you Sgt. Tanouye for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ted and his brother Yukiwo.
Last year on this date I profiled Gerald Keys, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. You can read about Gerald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Ted's youngest brother Yukiwo was killed in action in the Korean War on September 7, 1951, seven years and one day after Ted died.
In 1996, a special review was conducted to determine if some World War 2 medals were downgraded due to prejudice against minorities prevalent in the 1940s. Sgt. Tanouye's DFC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
An extensive article about Ted and his family can be read here.
His grave is at Evergreen Cemetery in Log Angeles, California.
Last year on this date I profiled Gerald Keys, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion. You can read about Gerald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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