Medal of Honor: Francis B. Wai, World War II, October 20, 1944

Name: Francis B. Wai
Rank: Captain
War: World War II
Date of Action: October 20, 1944
Unit: Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Born: April 14, 1917 – Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
Entered Service At: Honolulu, Hawaii

Summary of Action
As the U.S. invasion of Leyte began—the first step in retaking the Philippines—Japanese guns raked the beachhead with merciless fire. The first waves of soldiers were pinned down and leaderless, trapped in the open paddies with nowhere to go.

Captain Francis Wai, a Hawaiian-born Chinese American officer, landed amid the chaos. Without hesitation, he rose from cover, calmly shouting orders and rallying demoralized men to their feet. Wading chest-deep through flooded rice paddies under direct fire, he advanced without concern for his own safety. Each time enemy fire erupted from a new position, Wai deliberately exposed himself to draw their fire, locating and directing the counterattack.

When only one pillbox remained to be cleared, he led the assault himself—charging through a storm of bullets until he was struck and killed. His fearless leadership broke the paralysis on the beach and ignited the men to press inland, securing the Red Beach landing zone and setting the stage for the liberation of the Philippines.

Medal of Honor Citation
WAI, FRANCIS B.
Captain Francis B. Wai distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 20 October 1944, in Leyte, Philippine Islands. Captain Wai landed at Red Beach, Leyte, in the face of accurate, concentrated enemy fire from gun positions advantageously located in a palm grove bounded by submerged rice paddies. Finding the first four waves of American soldiers leaderless, disorganized, and pinned down on the open beach, he immediately assumed command. Issuing clear and concise orders, and disregarding heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire, he began to move inland through the rice paddies without cover. The men, inspired by his cool demeanor and heroic example, rose from their positions and followed him. During the advance, Captain Wai repeatedly determined the locations of enemy strong points by deliberately exposing himself to draw their fire. In leading an assault upon the last remaining Japanese pillbox in the area, he was killed by its occupants. Captain Wai’s courageous, aggressive leadership inspired the men, even after his death, to advance and destroy the enemy. His intrepid and determined efforts were largely responsible for the rapidity with which the initial beachhead was secured. Captain Wai’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.