The brave 25 young men
who gave their life for their country
who gave their life for their country
Endo, Hiroo H, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/4/1921 in Downey, California and worked as a telephone operator. Hiroo and his mother was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (220-8-C)., where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and inducted on 7/26/1943. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company G. Hiroo was killed in action at the age of 25 years, on 4/8/1945 at Mt. Belvedere, Italy. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge and the Bronze Star. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Fuji, Abe M., Staff Sergeant, was born on 4/17/1920 and raised in Salinas, California. He graduated from the University of California and attended Hastings Law School in San Francisco when he volunteered for the U.S. Army on 12/30/1941 and married Thelma Noguchi of Poston II camp (215-3-A) before going on active duty. Abe fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 232nd Combat Engineer Company and was killed in action on 10/15/1944 in the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Fujiki, Charles S., Private 1st Class, was born in 1924 in Watsonville, California and finished three years of high school, when Charles and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (214-1-A). He graduated from Poston II high school and enlisted into the U.S. Army and inducted on 9/15/1944. Charles fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion, Company C, and died non-battle on 2/9/1946 in Italy from an accident. Award: Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
Hayashi, Tadao "Beanie", Private 1st Class, was born on 2/20/1924 in Salinas, California and graduated from Salinas Union High School. Tadao and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and then to Poston II camp (block 213). He enlisted for the U.S. Army from Poston in 2/1943 and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company I. Tadao was killed in action on 4/28/1945 during a reconnaissance mission in the Po Valley Campaign in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Florence American Cemetery near Florence, Italy.
Hayashi, Torao, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/24/1914 in Sacramento, California and graduated from high school in Sacramento. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1/1941 and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Pinedale Assembly Center, and then to to Poston II camp (208-2-C). Torao fought with the 100th Battalion, Company B, and was killed in action on 10/28/1944, at the age of 30 years, during the second day of the battle in rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Distinguished Unit Badge. Burial: East Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento, California.
Horiuchi, Paul Fumio, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/25/1922 in Walnut Grove, California and graduated from high school in Watsonville, California. He worked for the Nichi-Bei Japanese American Newspaper before Paul and his family were forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and then to Poston I camp (2-14-D). Paul enlisted into the U.S. Army in 5/1943 from Poston and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company E, 1st Platoon. He was killed in action at the age of 22 years on 10/19/1944 during the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, in San Bruno, California.
Inouye, Eugene T, Private, was born in 1926. Eugene and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (45-8-A), where he later enlisted in the U.S. Army. Eugene was inducted on 4/9/1945 after leaving Poston camp I to work in Chicago. Before reporting to Fort Douglas, Utah, he went to San Dimas, California, to visit his father and became ill and died on 6/22/1945, during the time that his family was returning home from Poston.
Izumizaki, Henry Sadao, Private 1st Class, was born in 3/1920 in Watsonville, California. Henry and his family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (220-8-C) , where he was a carpenter for the school construction project. In 3/1943, Henry enlisted in the U. S. Army, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F. He was killed in action on 11/2/1944 during the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star and Distinguished Unit Badge. Final burial: Watsonville Memorial Park in Watsonville, California.
Madokoro, Harry Fumio, Private 1st Class, was born on 1/1/1912 in Watsonville, California, and graduated from Watsonville Joint Union High School. Harry and his mother were forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center and later to Poston II (block 213). Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army from Poston II camp, where he had served as the Police Chief for camp II. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company K, 2nd Platoon, 1st Squad and was killed in action on 8/25/1944 during the Battle of Luciana in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, and Distinguished Service Cross. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Mizokami, Timothy Itsuo, Staff Sergeant, was born on 2/14/1919 in Aromas, California, and graduated from Salinas Union High School. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and stationed at Camp Shelby, MS when his family was forced to evacuate to Poston III camp (block 318). Tim fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company M, and was killed in action on 11/13/1944 at the age of 25 years, during the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" of the 36th Texas Division in France. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge and Purple Heart. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Mukai, Hachiro, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/27/1919 in Menlo Park, California and was a salutatorian for Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California. Hachiro registered for the U.S. Army draft on 2/2/1942. His family was forced to evacuate from Milpitas, California to Poston III camp(318-3-A). Hachiro visited his family in Poston in 10/1943 from Fort Riley and in 7/1944 from Fort Meade. He fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F, 3rd Platoon and was killed in action on 10/22/1944 after the Battle of Bruyeres near Biffontaine, France with the O'Conner Task Force Operation. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Distinguished Unit Citation. Burial: U.S. Military Cemetery in Epinal, France.
Nagato, Fumitake, Private 1st Class, was born on 8/2/1918 in Los Angeles, California and graduated from high school in Brawley, California. Fumitake and his family were farming in Brawley when they were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (60-4-C). Fumitake enlisted in the U.S. Army from Poston and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company G. He was killed in action at the age of 26 years, on 10/20/1944 in the Battle of Bruyeres Campaign in the Vosges Mountains in France. Awards: Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Purple Heart. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Narimatsu, John T., Corporal, was born 2/23/1919 in Dinuba, California and graduated from Reedley High School. John and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston III camp (306-10-D), where he enlisted for the U.S Army in 1944. John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company L, and died of battle wounds on 11/1/1944 during the Vosges Mountain-St. Die Campaign near Epinal, France. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba, California.
Nishimoto, Tom Tomiya, Private, was born on 9/14/1917 in Los Angeles, California and attended Central Union High in El Centro, California and Central Junior College. Tom and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (53-1-A). Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army in 6/1944 from Detroit, MI, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company L, 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad. He was killed in action on 4/5/1945 in the Po Valley Campaign in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Badge. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Nitta, Kongo, Private, was born on 5/13/1922 and lived in Watsonville, California. Kongo and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (216-12-B). Kongo was inducted into the U.S. Army in 3/1945 and accidentally drowned during basic training at Camp Maxey, Texas on 7/14/1945.
Ogawa, John Norio, Sergeant, was born on 3/10/1916 in Garden Grove, California and graduated from Garden Grove High School. He was a farmer before he was inducted into the U.S. Army on 12/1/1941. His family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (38-1-B). John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I, and was killed in action on 4/21/1945 near Foce I Cuccu, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster. Burial: Magnolia Cemetery in Garden Grove, California.
Ohama, Abraham Jiro, Technical Sergeant, was born on 6/1/11916 in Guadalupe, California and graduated from Sanger High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Army from Los Angeles, California on 2/23/1941. Abe's family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (222-9-G). Before being sent overseas for active duty, Abe spent his last furlough was with his family at Poston camp II and was the best man for his brother's wedding. Abe fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, Company F, 2nd Platoon (leader) and was killed while going to the aid of a wounded buddy on 10/20/1944 during the Battle of Bruyeres in France. Awards: Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Centerville Cemetery in Sanger, California.
Onoye, Lloyd Mitsuru, Private 1st Class, was born on 9/15/1921 in Salinas, California and graduated from Salinas High School and Salinas Junior College. Lloyd's family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II camp (213-8-B), where he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2/1943. Lloyd fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I, and was killed in action at the age of 24 years on 4/21/1945 during the Po Valley Campaign near Fosdinova, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Unit Badge. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Sakamoto, Atsushi, Technical Sergeant, was born on 10/5/1916 and grew up in San Pedro, California. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942, and his family was forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (226-8-B). Atsushi fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company K, and was killed in action at the age of 28 years, on 7/17/1944 in the Livorno-Luciana area in the Rome-Arno battle in Italy. Awards: Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star and Purple Heart. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Shiomichi, Joe Ryo, Private, was born on 8/31/1920 in Brawley, California, graduated from Brawley High School and the University of California, Berkeley. Joe and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (6-5-D), where he taught chemistry in high school. Joe enlisted for the U.S. Army from Poston, and fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Company I. He was killed in action at the age of 23 years on 7/19/1944 in the Rome-Arno battle. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Bronze Star. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Shiramizu, James Kiyoshi, Technical Sergeant, was born on 2/1/1919 in Salinas, California, attended Gonzales High School and graduated from Salinas High School. His family was forced to evacuate first to the Salinas Assembly Center, then to Poston II (214-8-C). James was drafted in Los Angeles, and fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion, Medical Detachment in the Salerno-Cassino Campaign with the 34th Red Bull Division. He died of wounds on 1/14/1944 near Presenzano, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Medical Badge. Buried: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Teshima, Michio R., Private, was born on 3/18/1923 in Riverside, California and attended college in Michigan while his family was forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (block 31). Michio enlisted in the U.S. Army on 4/7/1944 and fought with the 100th Battalion, Company C as a replacement, and killed in action on 4/5/1945 at Serraezzo, Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Toyota, Shichizo, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/10/1919 in Modesto, California and attended schools in Gilroy, California. Shichizo and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston II camp (213-1-C), where he worked for the Unit II Community Activities Department, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on 6/5/1943. Shichizo fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company E, and was killed in action at the age of 25 years on 7/13/1944 in Italy. Awards: Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Tsukamoto, Daniel Y, Private 1st Class, was born on 5/12/1921 and attended Roosevelt High School and Los Angeles City College. Daniel and his mother were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (46-5-C). Dan fought with the 100th Battalion/44nd Regimental Combat Team,Company D, and died non-battle from a truck accident on 8/26/1944 in Italy. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Yamamoto, John Tsuyoshi, Private 1st Class, was born on 11/29/1924, grew up in Oceanside, California and attended Carlsbad High School. John and his family were forced to evacuate to Poston I camp (22-1-C). He enlisted for the U.S. Army and was inducted in 6/1943. John fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company H, 3rd platoon (mortar section) and was killed in action at the age of 20 years, on 7/15/1944 at Grosseto, Italy during the Rome-Arno Campaign. Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Bronze Star. Burial: Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
Photo: Located at the Poston Memorial Monument, Poston, AZ.
