Joe M. Nishimoto

He broke through mined ground to destroy enemy gun positions

Joe M. Nishimoto was born in Fresno, California, in 1920. During World War II, he served as a private first class in Company G, 442d Regimental Combat Team.

On November 7, 1944, near La Houssiere, France, his company had spent three days trying to dislodge defenders from a ridge. Acting as squad leader, Nishimoto crawled through mines and booby traps to attack their strongpoints. He destroyed one machine-gun emplacement with a grenade, attacked another from behind, and drove a further gun crew from its position. With their principal defenses broken, the enemy withdrew from the sector.

Nishimoto died in France on November 13, 1944, six days after the action. He was buried at Washington Colony Cemetery in Fresno. President William J. Clinton presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his sister, Akie Ishida, at the White House on June 21, 2000. The award remembers an infantryman's determined advance through a defended and mined position.

Official citation For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Private First Class Joe M. Nishinoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November 1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful atempts by his company to dislodge the enmy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-traped area. Spotting a machine gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove another machine gun crew fron its position. The enemy, with their key strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Private First Class Nishimoto'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.