Medal of Honor: Robert Toshio Kuroda, World War II, October 20, 1944

Name: Robert Toshio Kuroda
Rank: Staff Sergeant
War: World War II
Date of Action: October 20, 1944
Unit: Company H, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, U.S. Army
Born: November 8, 1922 – Aiea, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii
Entered Service At: Aiea, Hawaii

Summary of Action
On the wooded slopes near Bruyères, France, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—the famed Nisei unit of Japanese-American soldiers—faced fierce German resistance. Machine gun fire pinned down the advance, halting progress through the dense forest.

Staff Sergeant Robert Kuroda, refusing to let his men stay trapped under the guns, crawled and climbed through withering fire toward the source. Locating the first machine gun, he crept within ten yards and hurled grenades, killing the crew before emptying his rifle into nearby positions. When his ammunition ran dry, he spotted an American officer cut down by fire from another nest across the ridge. Racing toward him, Kuroda found the officer dead—but seized his submachine gun and charged the second emplacement. He destroyed that gun as well before being struck and killed by a sniper’s bullet.

His final assault silenced the enemy and broke the line, allowing his platoon to continue the advance. In the courage and sacrifice of Robert Kuroda, the spirit of the 442nd—“Go For Broke”—was made flesh.

Medal of Honor Citation
KURODA, ROBERT T.
Staff Sergeant Robert T. Kuroda distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 20 October 1944, near Bruyeres, France. Leading his men in an advance to destroy snipers and machine gun nests, Staff Sergeant Kuroda encountered heavy fire from enemy soldiers occupying a heavily wooded slope. Unable to pinpoint the hostile machine gun, he boldly made his way through heavy fire to the crest of the ridge. Once he located the machine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced to a point within ten yards of the nest and killed three enemy gunners with grenades. He then fired clip after clip of rifle ammunition, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy. As he expended the last of his ammunition, he observed that an American officer had been struck by a burst of fire from a hostile machine gun located on an adjacent hill. Rushing to the officer’s assistance, he found that the officer had been killed. Picking up the officer’s submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward a second machine gun emplacement and destroyed the position. As he turned to fire upon additional enemy soldiers, he was killed by a sniper. Staff Sergeant Kuroda’s courageous actions and indomitable fighting spirit ensured the destruction of enemy resistance in the sector. Staff Sergeant Kuroda’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.