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First Name: Sadao

Last Name: Munemori

Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Los Angeles, CA
Middle Name: S.



Date of Birth: 17 August 1922

Date of Death: 05 April 1945

Rank: Private First Class

Years Served: 1942-1945
Sadao S. Munemori
'Spud'

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Sadao S. Munemori
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori 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.

Sadao S. Munemori was born on 17 August 1922 in Los Angeles, CA. In 1942, shortly after he volunteered for the U.S. Army, Munemori's parents and siblings were incarcerated at the Manzanar internment camp for Japanese Americans.

Munemori was a Private First Class in Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. At Seravezza, Italy, during the closing stages of World War II, he sacrificed his life to save those of his colleagues. For his self-sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team.

Place and date: Near Seravezza, Italy, 5 April 1945.

He fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy's strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, l-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out 2 machineguns with grenades Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by 2 of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved 2 of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance.

Honors

• The interchange between the I-105 and I-405 freeways in Los Angeles is labeled the "Sadao S. Munemori Memorial Interchange."

• USAT Private Sadao S. Munemori is a reserved name in the U.S. Army, and was used as the name of a troop ship, USNS Private Sadao S. Munemori (T-AP-190), between 31 October 1947 and the 1970s.

Munemori Hall, a building located on the grounds of the Captain Nelson M. Holderman U.S. Army Reserve Center in West Los Angeles, CA, is named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori was killed in action on 5 April 1945. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA.



Honoree ID: 25   Created by: MHOH

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