Despite wounds and overwhelming enemy fire, he advanced alone to save his platoon—an act of valor recognized decades later with the Medal of Honor.
In the cold smoke of Mount Belvedere, a quiet Nisei soldier advanced alone, carving a path through fire so that others could live.
By the summer of 1944, Nishimoto was on the front lines in Italy. On August 31, near the Arno River, his squad came under heavy enemy fire as they attempted to cross open ground.
On July 4, 1944, beneath the searing Italian sun, while much of America celebrated Independence Day, freedom was being fought for on another front, the hills of Italy.
On November 4, under the same storm of fire, another soldier lay stranded across seventy-five yards of open ground. Okubo did not hesitate. He broke cover, reached the man, stabilized him, and carried him clear.
Surrounded by watchtowers and suspicion, their loyalty to America was doubted simply because of their ancestry. Yet from within the camp, William Nakamura made a choice that defied bitterness: he volunteered for the U.S. Army’s 442nd.
Then came the moment that would define George Sakato’s life. A close friend, fighting at his side, was struck down before his eyes. Grief and fury surged through him, fusing into resolve.
