Medal of Honor: James K. Okubo – World War II – October 28–29 & November 4, 1944
Across three brutal days in the Vosges Mountains, an Army medic repeatedly crawled through gunfire, crossed minefields, and faced grenades to save wounded comrades—heroism that became legend within the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
December 2, 2025
Name: James K. Okubo
Rank: Technician Fifth Grade
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Medical Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Place and Date: Forêt Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, France – 28 & 29 October and 4 November 1944
Entered Service At: Washington State
Born: May 30, 1920 – Anacortes, Washington
Departed: January 29, 1967
Accredited To: Washington
Summary of Action
In late October 1944, during the brutal fighting to clear the Vosges forests near Biffontaine, Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself through acts of unrelenting heroism carried out under direct fire while serving as a medic with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
On 28 October, Okubo repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire emanating from positions behind minefields and roadblocks. Crawling 150 yards toward the front, he closed to within 40 yards of entrenched German lines to reach wounded soldiers who lay beyond any cover. Two grenades exploded near him as he moved from his last protected position to pull casualties back to safety. Throughout the day, under continuous small-arms and machine-gun fire, he treated 17 wounded men, administering lifesaving aid in areas swept by hostile fire.
The next day, 29 October, he again braved enemy fire to reach wounded comrades. Moving deliberately through danger, Okubo treated eight more soldiers, displaying the same determined disregard for his own safety that had marked the previous day’s actions.
On 4 November, when a tank crewman was gravely wounded and trapped beside a burning vehicle, Okubo sprinted 75 yards across open ground under grazing machine-gun fire. Exposed to direct enemy targeting, he evacuated the casualty from the burning tank and provided immediate medical treatment—an act widely recognized as having saved the man’s life.
Across these three engagements, Okubo’s unwavering courage and devotion to his fellow soldiers exemplified the finest traditions of U.S. Army medical personnel and directly contributed to the survival of dozens of wounded men.
Medal of Honor Citation
