Gender

Male

Birth date

1922-11-8

Place of birth

Aiea, Oahu HI, U.S.A.

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company H

Stationed

Camp Shelby, MS; France

Separated

Bruyeres FR

Unit responsibility

Infantry

Personal responsibility

Squad leader

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rhineland 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 posthumously with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's highest medal for extraordinary heroism. His citation for the Medal of Honor is as follows:

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

STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT T. KURODA UNITED STATES ARMY

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

Staff Sergeant Robert T. Kuroda distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 20 October 1944, near Bruyeres, France. Leading his men in an advance to destroy snipers and machine gun nests, Staff Sergeant Kuroda encountered heavy enemy fire from enemy soldiers occupying a heavily wooded slope. Unable to pinpoint the hostile machine gun, he boldly made his way through heavy fire toward the crest of the ridge. Once locating the machine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced to a point within 10 yards of the nest and killed three enemy gunners with grenades. He then fired clip after clip of rifle ammunition upon the enemy, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy. As he expended the last of his ammunition, he observed that an American officer had been struck by a burst of fire from a hostile machine gun located on an adjacent hill. Rushing to the officer's assistance, he found that the officer had been killed. Picking up the officer's submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward the second machine gun emplacement and destroyed the position. As he turned to fire upon additional enemy soldiers, he was killed by a sniper. Staff Sergeant Kuroda's courageous actions and indomitable fighting spirit, ensured the destruction of enemy resistance in the sector.

Staff Sergeant Kuroda'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.

Additional information

Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to brother, former Hawaii State Senator Joe Kuroda, by President Clinton.

The field at Fort Deruny was named S/Sgt Robert T. Kuroda field in 1960.