James K. Okubo

Infobox Military Person
name=James K. Okubo
born= birth date|1920|5|30
died= death date and age|1967|1|29|1920|5|30
placeofbirth=Bellingham Washington
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Technician Fifth Grade
commands=
unit=442nd Regimental Combat Team
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor Silver Star
relations=
laterwork=

James K. Okubo (May 30, 1920 – January 29, 1967) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Okubo was interned with his family at the Heart Mountain War Relocation Center in Wyoming.cite web | title=Medal of Honor: James Okubo | url=http://www.medalofhonor.com/JamesOkubo.htm | accessdate=2008-07-21]

On October 28, 1944, Okubo was a technician fifth grade serving as a combat medic in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. During a battle on that day and the following day, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ near Biffontaine, France, he carried wounded soldiers to safety and treated over two dozen men despite intense enemy fire. One week later, on November 4, he again braved enemy fire to rescue a man from a burning tank. For his actions, Okubo was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but was instead given the Silver Star under the mistaken belief that medics were not eligible for higher awards.

Okubo left the Army while still a technician fifth grade. He died at age 46 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.

A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who were decorated in World War II led to Okubo being awarded 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. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Okubo's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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. Okubo's 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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*findagrave|7974416 Retrieved on 2007-11-20
*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (M-S)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16, 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
accessdate = 2007-11-20
*cite web
last = Williams
first = Rudi
publisher = American Forces Press Service
title = 21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor
date = May 19, 2000
url = http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45192
accessdate = 2007-11-20
*cite web | last = Kakesako | first = Gregg | title=AJA medic’s medal may be upgraded: 'The late James K. Okubo of the 442nd is on track for the Medal of Honor|url=http://starbulletin.com/1999/09/15/news/story6.html| date=1999-09-15

Persondata
NAME= Okubo, James K.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=