Gender

Male

Birth date

1917-4-25

Place of birth

Makawao, Maui HI, U.S.A.

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C

Military specialty

Rifleman

Stationed

Camp Shelby, MS; Italy

Unit responsibility

Infantry

Personal responsibility

Rifleman

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno River Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

One of 22 Asian Pacific Americans to be 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 states:

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

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS KAORU MOTO UNITED STATES ARMY

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

Private First Class Kaoru Moto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Castellina, Italy. While serving as first scout, Private First Class Moto observed a machine gun nest that was hindering his platoon's progress. On his own initiative, he made his way to a point ten paces from the hostile position, and killed the enemy machine gunner. Immediately, the assistant gunner opened fire in the direction of Private First Class Moto. Crawling to the rear of the position Private First Class Moto surprised the enemy soldiers, who quickly surrendered. Taking his prisoner with him, Private First Class Moto took a position a few yards from a house to deny the enemy use of the building as an observation post. While guarding the house and his prisoner, he observed an enemy machine gun team moving into position. He engaged them, and with deadly fire forced the enemy to withdraw. An enemy sniper located in another house fired at Private First Class Moto severely wounding him. Applying first aid to his wound, he changed position to elude the sniper fire and to advance. Finally relieved of his position, he made his way to the rear for treatment. Crossing a road, he spotted an enemy machine gun nest. Opening fire, he wounded two of the three soldiers occupying the position. Not satisfied with this accomplishment, he then crawled forward to a better position and ordered the enemy soldier to surrender. Receiving no answer, Private First Class Moto fired at the position, and the soldiers surrendered.

Private First Class Moto'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

'The day the news was to appear that these men were to receive the Medal of Honor, my son Eric went to buy lunch and the paper. When driving back to work, he stopped at a traffic light and the car in front of him had the name 'Kaoru' on the license plate. My husband passed away in 1992, but my son immediately thought it was a sign. 'Daddy knows he got his Medal of Honor.''--Mrs. Violet Moto, wife of Kaoru