"GO FOR BROKE"

Like many Japanese Americans, TSgt. Tanouye and his family were interred in camps. He was in Camp Rohwer War Relocation Center and it was from here that he enlisted in the Army.

On 7 July 1944, Tanouye was serving as a technical sergeant in Company K of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. During a battle on that day, near Molino a Ventoabbto, Italy, he repeatedly advanced forward of his unit to attack the German forces alone, despite intense return fire.

Although severely wounded, he continued to fight until his platoon had succeeded in taking their objective, the crest of a hill. He died of his wounds two months later and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. (Tanouye was re-interned with his family at the Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas.)

For his actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Tanouye'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. Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to TECHNICAL SERGEANT TED T. TANOUYE UNITED STATES ARMY for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Technical Sergeant Ted T. Tanouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 July 1944, near Molino A Ventoabbto, Italy.

Technical Sergeant Tanouye led his platoon in an attack to capture the crest of a strategically important hill that afforded little cover. Observing an enemy machine gun crew placing its gun in position to his left front, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crept forward a few yards and opened fire on the position, killing or wounding three and causing two others to disperse. Immediately, an enemy machine pistol opened fire on him. He returned the fire and killed or wounded three more enemy soldiers. While advancing forward, Technical Sergeant Tanouye was subjected to grenade bursts, which severely wounded his left arm. Sighting an enemy-held trench, he raked the position with fire from his submachine gun and wounded several of the enemy. Running out of ammunition, he crawled 20 yards to obtain several clips from a comrade on his left flank. Next, sighting an enemy machine pistol that had pinned down his men, Technical Sergeant Tanouye crawled forward a few yards and threw a hand grenade into the position, silencing the pistol. He then located another enemy machine gun firing down the slope of the hill, opened fire on it, and silenced that position. Drawing fire from a machine pistol nest located above him, he opened fire on it and wounded three of its occupants. Finally taking his objective, Technical Sergeant Tanouye organized a defensive position on the reverse slope of the hill before accepting first aid treatment and evacuation.

Technical Sergeant Tanouye'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.

Tanouye, Ted T., T/SGT