Wataru Nakamura

He retook enemy bunkers alone, then returned to fight again.

Wataru Nakamura was born in Los Angeles, California, on 20 November 1921, the second of seven children. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he moved to San Francisco to work in a relative's business and help support his family. In 1942, wartime exclusion orders forced Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Nakamura rejoined his family at the Rohwer relocation centre in Arkansas. In April 1944 he enlisted in the Army despite the treatment his family had experienced.

He served in Europe with Company K of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. After discharge he settled in Chicago, but was recalled to active duty in 1950 during the Korean War. By May 1951 he was a private first class in Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. His new campaign placed him in another infantry unit during a period of heavy fighting against Chinese and North Korean forces.

At about daybreak on 18 May 1951 near P'ungch'on-ni, he volunteered to check and repair a damaged communication line. He did not know that enemy troops had infiltrated and captured fortified American positions. Coming under intense fire, he attacked without waiting for support. Using his carbine, bayonet and grenades, he destroyed a machine-gun position and drove enemy soldiers from captured bunkers.

When his ammunition ran out, he withdrew under fire and met an ammunition party. He explained the situation, rearmed and went forward again. The official citation says he "returned to the fight" and describes his renewed attack on the remaining enemy-held positions (https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/nakamura/). He was mortally wounded by a grenade while continuing the assault. He was twenty-nine; his earlier discharge and time in Chicago had been only an interval between two wars.

His actions initially earned the Distinguished Service Cross. Following a later review, that decoration was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Joe Biden presented the award posthumously on 3 January 2025, with family representation. His Army record now connects service in the Japanese-American 442nd during the Second World War with his final action in Korea, while keeping the two campaigns and the awards they earned distinct.