Robert Toshio Kuroda
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Staff Sergeant Robert Toshio Kuroda (8 November 1922 - 20 October 1944) 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 heroic actions during World War II.

Robert Toshio Kuroda was born on 8 November 1922 in Aiea, HI. On 20 October 1944, Kuroda was serving as a Staff Sergeant in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Near Bruyères, France, that day he single-handedly attacked two enemy machine gun emplacements before being killed by a sniper. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Army's second-highest medal for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. A late 1990's review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Kuroda's award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Place and date: Near Bruyeres, France, 20 October 1944.

Citation: Staff Sergeant Robert T. Kuroda distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action, on 20 October 1944, near Bruyeres, France. Leading his men in an advance to destroy snipers and machine gun nests, Staff Sergeant Kuroda encountered heavy fire from enemy soldiers occupying a heavily wooded slope. Unable to pinpoint the hostile machine gun, he boldly made his way through heavy fire to the crest of the ridge. Once he located the machine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced to a point within ten yards of the nest and killed three enemy gunners with grenades. He then fired clip after clip of rifle ammunition, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy. As he expended the last of his ammunition, he observed that an American officer had been struck by a burst of fire from a hostile machine gun located on an adjacent hill. Rushing to the officer's assistance, he found that the officer had been killed. Picking up the officer's submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward a second machine gun emplacement and destroyed the position. As he turned to fire upon additional enemy soldiers, he was killed by a sniper. Staff Sergeant Kuroda's courageous actions and indomitable fighting spirit ensured the destruction of enemy resistance in the sector. Staff Sergeant Kuroda'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.

In a ceremony at the White House on 21 June 2000, Kuroda's surviving family was presented 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.

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Robert Toshio Kuroda was killed in action on 20 October 1944. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI, in Section D, Grave 92.