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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sgt. James K. Okubo, US Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Sgt. Okubo, a medic, risked his life while under heavy enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers on Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 4, 1944 - near Biffontaine, France. During World War II, Okubo was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but the 442nd medic was rejected. Instead, Okubo, a Detroit dentist who was killed in auto accident in 1967, was awarded the Silver Star. It was later updated to the Medal of Honor.
Okubo, whose family was sent to a relocation camp at Hart Mountain in Wyoming from Bellingham, Wash., after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, used his body to protect wounded soldiers. He also saved a wounded soldier by pulling him from a burning tank in France in 1944.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 442d Regimental Combat Team. Place and date: Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France, 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944. Entered service at: Alturas, California. Birth: Anacortes, Washington.
Citation: Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubos 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.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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