Sadao Munemori
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Sadao S. Munemori (born Los Angeles, California, died April 5, 1945) was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, after he sacrificed his life to save those of his colleagues, at Seravezza, Italy, April 5, 1945, during the closing stages of World War II. A Private First Class, U.S. Army, in Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team, he entered service in Los Angeles.
The Congressional General Order. No. 24, March 7, 1946, stated:
- "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, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machineguns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two 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 two of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance."
The interchange between the I-105 and I-405 freeways in Los Angeles is labeled the "Sadao S. Munemori Memorial Interchange.", and Private Sadao S. Munemori is a reserved name in the U.S. Army, and was used as the name of a troop ship between 31 October 1947 and the 1970s.
External links
- Private Sadao S. Munemori (http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p12/private_sadao_s_munernori.htm) - the troop ship described at the Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Centre.