Joe M Nishimoto ★ World War II Gold Star Veteran from California
On November 15, 1944 Private First Class Nishimoto was declared a casualty of World War II. ★ He served with honor in the United States Army. ★ He is remembered by the people of California. ★ May his positive example inspire us. Working together towards peace, mutual respect, and equality for all.
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Our displayed data concerning the life and military history of Joe M Nishimoto is a work in progress. We've assembled a list of elements we are in the process of researching and reviewing. This profile was last edited on 2015-09-13 23:07:20.
Missing : Core Data
· Middle name· Enlistment type
· Military occupation or specialty
· Date of tour or service
Missing : Supplemental Data
· Educational background· Marriage history
· Parents, family history
· Expanded references and citations
Service Details
| This Profile ID | 323294 |
| Service ID | 35229917 |
| Name | Joe M Nishimoto |
| From | Fresno, Fresno County, California |
| Birth Date | February 21, 1919 |
| Casualty Date | November 15, 1944 |
| War | World War II |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit/Group | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Casualty Type | Killed in action |
| Location | La Houssiere, France |
| Burial | Washington Colony Cemetery, Fresno, California |
| Notable Awards |
★ Medal of Honor
★ Distinguished Service Cross
★ Purple Heart |
Additional Details
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American. He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas.Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943. He volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland. He was killed in action on November 15, 1944 and was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Nakamura's award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously. Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor citation reads in part: After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Joe M Nishimoto was also associated with Marion county, Ohio, USA. |
Commendations + Awards
Please note this might not be a complete or completely accurate accounting. For some awards we use probability factors based on known service details. Thanks for your understanding.
★ Medal of Honor
★ World War II Victory Medal
★ Distinguished Service Cross
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ Purple Heart
★ American Campaign Medal
★ Army Presidential Unit Citation
★ Army Good Conduct Medal
★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
California Gold Star Veterans Gallery
Honoring the men and women of California who gave their all for their country. May their example of courage and sacrifice be our guide. To be strong and responsible in our lives as citizens of the world. Through honest daily actions, we honor them.
▼ California was home to over 30,000 American Gold Star veterans from 4 wars of the 20th Century. Some significant statistics:
• 1,933 World War I
• 19,844 World War II
• 2,648 Korean War
• 5,575 Vietnam War
• 630 Prisoners of war
• 7,011 Missing in action
• 330 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 155 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
• 19,844 World War II
• 2,648 Korean War
• 5,575 Vietnam War
• 630 Prisoners of war
• 7,011 Missing in action
• 330 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 155 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
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