Rodney Jamus Takahashi Yano
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Sergeant First Class Rodney Jamus Takahashi Yano (13 December 1943 - 1 January 1969) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Rodney Jamus Takahashi Yano was born 13 December 1943 in Kealakekua Kona, HI. He joined the Army from Honolulu, HI. On 1 January 1969, Yano was serving as a Sergeant First Class in the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. On that day near Bien Hoa in the Republic of Vietnam, Yano was acting as a helicopter crewmember when a white phosphorus grenade exploded inside the aircraft. Despite being mortally wounded in the blast, Yano proceeded to throw the remaining ammunition off the helicopter, as flaming fragments of the grenade were causing it to detonate. For his heroic action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Place and date: Near Bien Hao, Republic of Vietnam, 1 January 1969.

Entered service at: Honolulu, HI. Born: 13 December 1943, Kealakekua Kona, HI.

Citation: Sfc. Yano distinguished himself while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop. Sfc. Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle. From an exposed position in the face of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire he delivered suppressive fire upon the enemy forces and marked their positions with smoke and white phosphorous grenades, thus enabling his troop commander to direct accurate and effective artillery fire against the hostile emplacements. A grenade, exploding prematurely, covered him with burning phosphorous, and left him severely wounded. Flaming fragments within the helicopter caused supplies and ammunition to detonate. Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control. Although having the use of only 1 arm and being partially blinded by the initial explosion, Sfc. Yano completely disregarded his welfare and began hurling blazing ammunition from the helicopter. In so doing he inflicted additional wounds upon himself, yet he persisted until the danger was past. Sfc. Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew. By his conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life, in the highest traditions of the military service, Sfc. Yano has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Vietnam War Memorial

The name Rodney Jamus Takahashi Yano is inscribed on Panel 35W - Line 18.

Honors

Yano Fitness Center at Camp Zama, Japan is named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Sergeant First Class Rodney Jamus Takahashi Yano was killed in action on 1 January 1969. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI, in Section W, Grave 614.