George T. Sakato

George T. Sakato was a United States Army soldier who served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during combat in the Vosges Mountains of France in 1944. His actions, initially recognized with the Distinguished Service Cross, were part of a broader review that corrected historical oversights regarding Asian American servicemen. He remains a celebrated figure for his valor and as a representative of the Nisei soldiers who fought for the United States.

Early life and military enlistment

He was born on February 19, 1921, in Colton, California, to Issei parents who were immigrants from Japan. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent issuance of Executive Order 9066, his family was forcibly relocated to the Poston War Relocation Center, an internment camp in the Arizona desert. Despite this treatment, he sought to enlist in the United States Army Air Forces but was initially rejected. He was eventually drafted into the United States Army in 1944 and volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit composed almost entirely of Nisei soldiers.

World War II service

He was assigned as a private to Company E of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was deployed to the European Theater. His unit saw intense combat in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France during the autumn of 1944. On October 29, 1944, near the town of Biffontaine, his platoon came under devastating fire from well-entrenched German forces on Hill 617. During the fierce engagement, he displayed exceptional leadership and courage after the squad leader was killed, rallying his comrades and leading a one-man assault that disrupted the enemy position.

Medal of Honor

For his actions on that day, he was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1945. Decades later, a congressionally mandated review of Asian American service records from World War II was conducted to identify potential racial disparities in the awarding of the Medal of Honor. This review, led by the United States Department of Defense, determined that his valor had been undervalued. On June 21, 2000, in a ceremony at the White House, President Bill Clinton presented him with the Medal of Honor, upgrading his previous award. He was one of 22 Asian American veterans, including 20 from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, to receive the nation's highest military honor during that ceremony.

Later life and legacy

After the war, he utilized the G.I. Bill and settled in Denver, Colorado, where he worked for the United States Postal Service for many years. He was a frequent speaker at events honoring veterans and educating the public about the service of Nisei soldiers. He died on December 2, 2015, in Denver, Colorado, and was interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery. His story is featured in the Go for Broke National Education Center, and his Medal of Honor is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Army. His legacy endures as a powerful testament to patriotism in the face of prejudice and the distinguished combat record of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:Medal of Honor recipients Category:442nd Regimental Combat Team