MOH

Medal of Honor: Sadao S. Munemori – World War II – April 5, 1945

He charged enemy machine guns alone and broke the line ahead. Then, in his final seconds, he chose his men’s lives over his own.

April 22, 2026

Name: Sadao S. Munemori
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team
Date of Action: April 5, 1945
Location: Near Seravezza, Italy

Summary of Action

On 5 April 1945, Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori fought near Seravezza, Italy, as part of the famed 442d Combat Team.

His unit was pinned down by grazing enemy fire from a strong mountain defense line.

When the squad leader was wounded, command of the squad fell to Munemori.

Without hesitation, he attacked.

Through direct enemy fire, he launched lone frontal assaults against hostile machine-gun positions.

Using grenades, he destroyed two machine guns that had halted the advance.

As he withdrew under murderous fire and showers of enemy grenades from nearby emplacements, he moved toward a shell crater occupied by two of his men.

At that moment, an unexploded grenade struck his helmet and rolled into the crater toward the helpless soldiers.

There was no time to think.

Munemori rose into the withering fire, dove onto the grenade, and covered it with his body.

The explosion killed him instantly.

His sacrifice saved the lives of the two men beside him and helped open the path for his company’s victorious advance.

Sadao S. Munemori’s courage, leadership, and final selfless act upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

MUNEMORI, SADAO S.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Combat Team.
Place and date: Near Seravezza, Italy, 5 April 1945.
Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif.
Birth: Los Angeles, Calif.
G.O. No.: 24, 7 March 1946.

Citation:
He fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy’s strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, 1-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out 2 machineguns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by 2 of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved 2 of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company’s victorious advance.