MOH

Medal of Honor: Yukio Okutsu – World War II – April 7, 1945

Three machine guns stopped the platoon cold on Mount Belvedere. One technical sergeant went forward alone and tore the defense apart.

April 23, 2026

Name: Yukio Okutsu
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: 442d Regimental Combat Team
Date of Action: April 7, 1945
Location: Mount Belvedere, Italy

Summary of Action

On 7 April 1945, Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu distinguished himself in action on Mount Belvedere, Italy.

His platoon had been halted by the deadly crossfire of three enemy machine guns guarding a vital objective.

With the advance stopped, Okutsu acted on his own initiative.

He crawled through heavy enemy fire to within thirty yards of the nearest emplacement.

From that exposed position, he threw two perfectly placed grenades into the nest, killing three machine gunners and destroying the position.

Without pausing, he crawled and dashed from cover to cover toward the second gun.

Another grenade silenced that machine gun, wounded two enemy soldiers, and forced two more to surrender.

A third machine gun still blocked the platoon’s path.

Okutsu advanced again through intense small-arms fire.

During the movement, a rifle round glanced off his helmet and momentarily stunned him.

Recovering immediately, he charged several enemy riflemen with his submachine gun and drove them from their positions.

Then he rushed the machine-gun nest itself, capturing both the weapon and its four-man crew.

By his single-handed assault against three fortified positions, Okutsu shattered the enemy defense and enabled his platoon to resume the attack.

His courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and devotion to duty reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.


Medal of Honor Citation

OKUTSU, YUKIO

Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 442d Regimental Combat Team.
Place and date: Mount Belvedere, Italy, 7 April 1945.
Entered service at: Hawaii.
Born: 19 November 1921, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii.

Citation:
Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 April 1945, on Mount Belvedere, Italy. While his platoon was halted by the crossfire of three machine guns, Technical Sergeant Okutsu boldly crawled to within 30 yards of the nearest enemy emplacement through heavy fire. He destroyed the position with two accurately placed hand grenades, killing three machine gunners. Crawling and dashing from cover to cover, he threw another grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding two enemy soldiers, and forcing two others to surrender. Seeing a third machine gun, which obstructed his platoon’s advance, he moved forward through heavy small arms fire and was stunned momentarily by rifle fire, which glanced off his helmet. Recovering, he bravely charged several enemy riflemen with his submachine gun, forcing them to withdraw from their positions. Then, rushing the machine gun nest, he captured the weapon and its entire crew of four. By these single-handed actions he enabled his platoon to resume its assault on a vital objective. The courageous performance of Technical Sergeant Okutsu against formidable odds was an inspiration to all. Technical Sergeant Okutsu’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.