Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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World War II - U.S. Army

Sadao S Munemori

Details
  • Rank: Private First Class
  • Conflict/Era: World War II
  • Unit/Command:
    Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team,
    34th Infantry Division
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: April 5, 1945
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: near Seravezza, Italy
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.

Medal of Honor Recipient Sadao S. Munemori
Medal of Honor Recipient Sadao S. Munemori
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
  • Awarded Posthumously: Yes
  • Presentation Date & Details: March 13, 1946
  • Born: August 17, 1922, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, United States
  • Died: April 5, 1945, near Seravezza, Italy
  • Buried: Evergreen Cemetery (MH) (A-2718), Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • Location of Medal: National Museum of the U.S. Army, Fort Belvoir, VA
 

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