Hiroshi Miyamura (1925 - 2022)

Born 6 Oct 1925 in Gallup, McKinley, New Mexico, United States

Ancestors

Died 29 Nov 2022 at age 97 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

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Biography

Hiroshi Miyamura was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Hiroshi Miyamura served in the United States Army in the Korean War
Service started: 1945
Unit(s): 7th Infantry Regiment
Service ended: 1953

Hiroshi Miyamura was a New Mexican.

Hiroshi Miyamura is Notable.

Hiroshi was born in 1925. He was the son of Yaichi Miyamura and Tori Matsukawa. He passed away in 2022.

Hiroshi Miyamura[3] was born in Gallup, New Mexico, to Yaichi Miyamura (June 3, 1888 – December 23, 1965) and Tori Matsukawa (December 10, 1896 – August 20, 1936), Japanese immigrant parents, making him a Nisei, a second-generation Japanese American.[4] His parents had moved there in 1923 and bought a 24-hour diner.[2] He was the fourth of nine children. His mother died when he was 11. He got the nickname "Hershey" because one of his teachers could not pronounce his first name correctly. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Medal of Honor

• RANK: CORPORAL (HIGHEST RANK: STAFF SERGEANT)
• CONFLICT/ERA: KOREAN WAR
• UNIT/COMMAND: COMPANY H, 2D BATTALION, 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
• MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: APRIL 24, 1951
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR TAEJON-NI, KOREA

CITATION Cpl. Miyamura, a member of Company H, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On the night of 24 April, Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy fanatically attacked, threatening to overrun the position. Cpl. Miyamura, a machine-gun squad leader, aware of the imminent danger to his men, unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat, killing approximately 10 of the enemy. Returning to his position, he administered first aid to the wounded and directed their evacuation. As another savage assault hit the line, he manned his machine gun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition was expended. He ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative. He then bayoneted his way through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation. When the intensity of the attack necessitated the withdrawal of the company Cpl. Miyamura ordered his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement. He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was depleted and he was severely wounded. He maintained his magnificent stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to repel the attack until his position was overrun. When last seen he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers. Cpl. Miyamura's indomitable heroism and consummate devotion to duty reflect the utmost glory on himself and uphold the illustrious traditions on the military service.^[4]

Miyamura's was the first Medal of Honor to be classified Top Secret. As Brigadier General Ralph Osborne explained to Miyamura and a group of reporters upon notifying them of his medal, "If the Reds knew what he had done to a good number of their soldiers just before he was taken prisoner, they might have taken revenge on this young man. He might not have come back."

Miyamura was held for 28 months. Following his release on August 20, 1953, he was informed that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to sergeant. He was repatriated to the United States and honorably discharged from the military shortly thereafter. His medal was presented to him by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1953 at the White House. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Mozingo, Joe (July 3, 2017). "Hiroshi Miyamura and his hometown had a lot in common. They believed in America". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 Dec 2022
2. ↑ "Hiroshi Hershey Miyamura". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947. Retrieved 27 Nov 2022
3. ↑ Japanese American Veterans Association, "The Nisei Legend of the Korean War"; retrieved 27 Dec 2022
4. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society retrieved 27 Dec 2022
5. ↑ Eric S. Bartelt (24 April 2001). "Secret Hero Recounts his Unforgettable Korean War". American Forces Press Service. US Department of Defence. Retrieved 27 Dec 2022