Gender

Male

Birth date

1917-9-28

Place of birth

Hilo HI, U.S.A.

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

100th Infantry Battalion (original), Company B

Military specialty

Platoon leader

Stationed

Camp Shelby, MS; Italy

Unit responsibility

Infantry

Personal responsibility

Platoon leader

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Anzio Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

One of 22 Asian Pacific Americans awarded the Medal of Honor at White House ceremonies on June 21, 2000. He previously was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's highest medal for extraordinary heroism. His citation for the Medal of Honor reads as follws:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to

TECHNICAL SERGEANT YEIKI KOBASHIGAWA, UNITED STATES ARMY

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Technical Sergeant Yeiki Kobashigawa distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 2 June 1944, in the vicinity of Lanuvio, Italy. During an attack, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa's platoon encountered strong enemy resistance from a series of machine guns providing support fire. Observing a machine gun nest 50 yards from his position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa crawled forward with one of his men, threw a grenade and then charged the enemy with his submachine gun while a fellow soldier provided covering fire. He killed one enemy soldier and captured two prisoners. Meanwhile, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa and his comrade were fired upon by another machine gun 50 yards ahead. Directing a squad to advance to his first poistion, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa again moved forward with a fellow soldier to subdue the second machine gun nest. After throwing grenades into the position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa provided close supporting fire while a fellow soldier charged, capturing four prisoners. On the alert for other machine gun nests, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa discovered four more, and skillfully led a squad in neutralizing two of them.

Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest tradition of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Additional information

'The plantation manager was upset because at the time all the plantations had a lack of men, so I could have gotten a deferment. But being from a family of nine, someone had to represent the family. I felt that's the reason why I didn't tell him I was going to the draft board. I wanted to represent my family in the American way.' (June 21, 2000, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) -- Tech. Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa