Name: James K. Okubo
Rank: Technician Fifth Grade
War: World War II
Date of Action: October 28–29 and November 4, 1944
Unit: Medical Detachment, 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Born: May 30, 1920 – Anacortes, Washington
Entered Service At: Bellingham, Washington
Summary of Action
In the dense woods of eastern France, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team — composed almost entirely of Japanese American soldiers — fought to rescue the “Lost Battalion.” Under fierce German fire, Technician Fifth Grade James Okubo crawled through minefields and open ground to reach fallen comrades. On October 28, he treated 17 wounded men while enemy grenades burst nearby. The next day, he saved eight more. A week later, when a tank crewman was trapped in a burning vehicle, Okubo sprinted 75 yards through grazing machine-gun fire to pull him to safety and tend his wounds.
Okubo’s steady courage under fire — unarmed, exposed, and determined — embodied the unbreakable spirit of the Nisei soldiers who fought for a country that had imprisoned their families at home.
Medal of Honor Citation
OKUBO, JAMES K.
Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo’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.
