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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Corporal Terry Teruo Kawamura
This Asian-Pacific American Engineer Hero?
The Medal of Honor is the United States highest military decoration. A number of Engineer officers and enlisted personnel have received the award since its inception during the Civil War, including two officers who would become Chiefs of Engineers in the late nineteenth century. General Douglas MacArthur, who was an Engineer officer in the early years of his career, was awarded the honor for his service during World War II. Also among this diverse group of American heroes was Corporal Terry Teruo Kawamura, an Engineer soldier in the 173d Engineer Company, 173d Airborne Brigade.
Terry Kawamura was born on December 10, 1949, in Wahiawa on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. His parents were both of Asian and Pacific Island heritage, and his father also served in the U.S. Army. Terry entered the Army in 1968 and was eventually assigned to the 173d Engineer Company.
The 173d Engineer Company was part of the elite 173d Airborne Brigade, which was the first U.S. Army ground combat unit to enter South Vietnam in 1965. Four years later the 173d were in the central highlands of South Vietnam at Camp Radcliff, a vast American base near the city of An Khe. On March 20, 1969, an enemy demolition team infiltrated the 173d Engineer Companys quarters area firing automatic weapons. The Medal of Honor citation vividly describes Corporal Kawamuras heroism:
Corporal Terry Teruo Kawamura
"Disregarding the intense fire, Cpl. Kawamura ran for his weapon. At that moment, a violent explosion tore a hole in the roof and stunned the occupants of the room. Cpl. Kawamura jumped to his feet, secured his weapon, and, as he ran toward the door to return the enemy fire, he observed that another explosive charge had been thrown through the hole in the roof to the floor. He immediately realized that 2 stunned fellow soldiers were in great peril and shouted a warning. Although in a position to escape, Cpl. Kawamura unhesitatingly wheeled around and threw himself on the charge. In completely disregarding his safety, Cpl. Kawamura prevented serious injury or death to several members of his unit."
President Richard M. Nixon presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Corporal Kawamura's family for his "extraordinary courage and selflessness" and "conspicuous gallantry . . . above and beyond the call of duty."
President Nixon presenting the Medal of Honor to the Kawamura family.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, 173d Engineer Company, 173d Airborne Brigade, Republic of Vietnam. Place and date: Camp Radcliff, Republic of Vietnam, 20 March 1969. Entered service at: Oahu, Hawaii. Born. 10 December 1949, Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Kawamura distinguished himself by heroic action while serving as a member of the 173d Engineer Company. An enemy demolition team infiltrated the unit quarters area and opened fire with automatic weapons. Disregarding the intense fire, Cpl. Kawamura ran for his weapon. At that moment, a violent explosion tore a hole in the roof and stunned the occupants of the room. Cpl. Kawamura jumped to his feet, secured his weapon and, as he ran toward the door to return the enemy fire, he observed that another explosive charge had been thrown through the hole in the roof to the floor. He immediately realized that 2 stunned fellow soldiers were in great peril and shouted a warning. Although in a position to escape, Cpl. Kawamura unhesitatingly wheeled around and threw himself on the charge. In completely disregarding his safety, Cpl. Kawamura prevented serious injury or death to several members of his unit. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Cpl. Kawamura are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
US Army Corps of Engineers, , Did You Know?
Vignette 78. . . Two Chiefs of Engineers were Medal of Honor Recipients?
Vignette 77. . . President John F. Kennedy Dedicated a Corps of Engineers Project Shortly Before His Death?
Vignette 76. . . Army Engineers Supervised Construction of the Arlington Cemetery Amphitheater?
Vignette 75. . . This Army Engineer Designed a U.S. Postage Stamp?
Vignette 74. . . Army Engineers Oversaw Military Reconstruction in Post-WWII Occupied Japan?
Vignette 73. . . The Corps Rapid ResponseDisaster Relief and RecoveryDuring Hurricane Camille and Tropical Storm Agnes?
Vignette 72. . . The District Has Kept the Channels of Hampton Roads Open for Half a Century?
Vignette 71. . . The Corps of Engineers Named Vessels to Honor Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Vignette 70. . . About the Early Corps of Engineers Plans for the C&O Canal?
Vignette 69. . . In Response to World Events (1941-61), Tulsa District Exemplified Flexibility?
Vignette 68. . . Under the Threat of War, the Baltimore District Mobilized its Civil Works Organization to Defend the Homeland?
Vignette 67. . . A rmy Engineers Reopened a Key Italian Port in Support of the Allied Advance in Italy During World War II ?
Vignette 66. . . A Famous Female Photographer's Shot of a Corps Project was LIFE's First Cover ?
Vignette 65. . . About the Corps Middle East Divisions Extensive Construction Program in Saudi Arabia ?
Vignette 64. . . Engineer Construction in the Persian Gulf Provided a Key Lifeline During World War II?
Vignette 63. . . During World War I the Corps of Engineers Procured Special Watches to Keep Accurate Time?
Vignette 62. . . How Army Engineers Cleared Viet Cong Tunnels?
Vignette 61. . . A Small-Scale Amphibious Operation Helped Save the Day for the Continental Army during Christmas 1776?
Vignette 60. . . Army Engineers Designed and Built President John F. Kennedys Original Eternal Flame at Arlington Cemetery?
Vignette 59. . . The Corps Has Helped Solve Urban Water Problems Since 1824?
Vignette 58. . . About the Corps Employee who was the First Olympic Gold Medal Winner?
Vignette 57. . . Army Engineers Were a Critical Part of the Greatest Invasion that Never Was?
Vignette 56. . . After World War II, the Corps Formed a New District to Rebuild Greek Infrastructure?
Vignette 55. . . The Corps came to the Aid of Florida in the Aftermath of Hurricane Andrew?
Vignette 54. . . The Corps Helped Control Helicopter-Generated Dust during the Vietnam War?
Vignette 53. . . What happened to the Hero of Little Round Top, Gouverneur K. Warren, CE?
Vignette 52. . . Congress created the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors on 13 June 1902?
Vignette 51. . . The Origins of Memorial Day?
Vignette 50. . . The Corps of Engineers Built NASA Facilities?
Vignette 49. . . Engineers Gathered Early Aurora Borealis Statistics Still Used by Scientists Today?
Vignette 48. . . The Corps' Connection to the Washington, D.C., Tidal Basin and its Beloved Cherry Trees?
Vignette 47. . . The Corps Helped Rebuild Alaska following Disastrous March 1964 Earthquake?
Vignette 46. . . Women Played Key Roles in the Manhattan Project?
Vignette 45. . . An Engineer Helped Save New York City from British Attack during the War of 1812?
Vignette 44. . . The Engineer Captain who Designed the Sergeant Floyd Monument?
Vignette 43. . . How the Corps Helped Reconstruct Kuwait Following the Persian Gulf War ?
Vignette 42. . . How the Corps Helped Kuwait Recover from Iraqi Occupation ?
Vignette 41. . . About the Role of Army Engineers during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm ?
Vignette 40. . . The Corps Designed Suspension Bridges that Saved Lives in Afghanistan?
Vignette 39. . . The Corps Oversaw the Construction of Much of Afghanistans Modern Road Network?
Vignette 38. . . An Army Engineer Brought Order to Church Meetings and Revolutionized Parliamentary Procedure?
Vignette 37. . . The Relationship Between The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and College Football?
Vignette 36. . . The Corps has been engaged in disaster recovery since 1882?
Vignette 35 . . . The Corps Helped Answer President Kennedy's Call for National Preparedness?
Vignette 34 . . . Under the pressure of war, the Corps built the Pentagon in 16 months?
Vignette 33 . . . Before the Civil War, Robert E. Lee Served for 26 Years as an Officer in the Corps of Engineers?
Vignette 32 . . . The Corps Built the Launch Sites for Atlas, the United States First ICBM?
Vignette 31 . . . The History of Army Corps of Engineers Headgear?
Vignette 30 . . . Congress rewarded a Revolutionary War Engineer for his role in taking Stony Point in July 1779?
Vignette 29 . . . The Meaning and Observance of Independence Day?
Vignette 28 . . . Army Engineers were at Little Bighorn? Not only were they with Custer, they were all over the West.
Vignette 27 . . . An Engineer Rescued 10 Warships Trapped behind Enemy Lines During the Civil War?
Vignette 26 . . . What Infamous Gang Stole a Corps Payroll?
Vignette 25 . . . This Asian-Pacific American Engineer Hero?
Vignette 24 . . . The bribe that went up in smoke?
Vignette 23 . . . An Engineer General was Instrumental in Grant's Success?
Vignette 22 . . . Engineers and Artillerists Formed One Corps in 1794?
Vignette 21 . . . For more than a century the Corps of Engineers had its own drama club?
Vignette 20 . . . One of the Corps' Most Distinguished Engineers Escaped Nazi Persecution?
Vignette 19 . . . A U.S. Stamp Commemorates our Second Chief Engineer?
Vignette 18 . . . The Corps of Engineers Built Missile Silos?
Vignette 17 . . . The 2d Engineer Combat Battalion Paid Heavy Price for being Rear Guard at Kunu-ri?
Vignette 16 . . . About Women's Contributions to the Corps of Engineers During World War II?
Vignette 15 . . . 16 March is a Key Date in Corps History?
Vignette 14 . . . A Former Chief Engineer Became the Army's Top General?
Vignette 13 . . . What a Corps Civilian, Current Meters, and Apple Sorters Have in Common?
Vignette 12 . . . Jim Bridger, Engineer Guide?
Vignette 11 . . . A Former Chief of Engineers Played a Part in Moving the Army Toward Integration?
Vignette 10 . . . A Revolutionary War Sapper Founded Cleveland, Ohio?
Vignette 9 . . . How the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Became a Major Army Command?
Vignette 8 . . . An Engineer Officer Helped Plan the Inch' on Invasion?
Vignette 7 . . . Army Engineers Helped Save the Day for JFK?
Vignette 6 . . . Army Engineers Ran the White House?
Vignette 5 . . . About this Nineteenth-Century Corps Civilian?
Vignette 4 . . . About this Humorous Tale of a Past Chief of Engineers?
Vignette 3 . . . This Corps of Engineers Hero?
Vignette 2 . . . The Engineers Fought and Lived Through Day of Infamy?
Vignette 1 . . . How the Military Construction Mission Began for the Corps of Engineers?
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