Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (, February 16, 1922 – June 26, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.US Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II (M-S)" ; retrieved 2012-12-7.
Early life Muranaga was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He is a Nisei, which means that he is a second generation Japanese-American. He was raised as one of the oldest of 9 other siblings in what is now Gardena, California.
He was interned with his family at the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado following the signing of Executive Order 9066.442nd Regimental Combat Team, "Tributes," Men of F Company, 2nd Battalion, Kiyoshi Muranaga; retrieved 2012-12-7.
Soldier Muranaga joined the US Army in May 1943.U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), WWII Army Enlistment Record #37356488 (Muranaga, Kiyoshi K.); retrieved 2012-12-7.
Muranaga volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team.Go for Broke National Education Center, "Medal of Honor Recipient Private First Class Kiyoshi K. Muranaga" ; retrieved 2012-12-7. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland. "100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry" at Global Security.org; retrieved 2012-12-7. Muranaga was killed on the first day of action for the 442nd in Italy.Discover Nikkei, "Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (KIA 06/26/1944)"; Hawaii Nisei Story, First Experience of War," First Battle ; retrieved 2012-12-7.
For his actions in June 1944, he was posthumously awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. "21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor" at University of Hawaii Digital History ; retrieved 2012-12-7. A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Muranaga's award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously.
Muranaga, aged 22 at his death, was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.
Muranaga's brothers were also soldiers. Kenichi (1924–2009)NARA, WWII Army Enlistment Record #37362102 (Muranaga, Kenichi K.) and Yoshio (1923–2008)NARA, WWII Army Enlistment Record #37715182 (Muranaga, Yoshi K.) also were in the 442nd. The youngest brother Tomi (born 1935) was a soldier in Korea.
Medal of Honor citation Muranaga's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in central Italy in 1944.
On June 26, 1944, Muranaga was serving as a private first class in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. On that day, near Suvereto, Italy, he single-handedly manned his squad's mortar in an exposed position in an attempt to destroy an enemy self-propelled gun that was firing on his company. Muranaga fired three shells before being killed by the enemy's return fire, but his actions forced the enemy vehicle to retreat.
Private First Class Muranaga's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Awards and decorations
BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge1st rowMedal of Honor2nd rowBronze Star MedalPurple HeartArmy Good Conduct Medal3rd rowAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal
See also List of Asian American Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References
External links "Army Secretary Lionizes 22 World War II Heroes" at Defense.gov