Gender

Male

Birth date

1919-11-15

Place of birth

Torrance CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1941-2-21, Fort MacArthur CA

Enlistment type

Draftee

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company K

Military specialty

Infantryman

Stationed

Fort Warren, WY; Camp Shelby, MS; USA
Italy

Unit responsibility

Infantry

Personal responsibility

Platoon leader

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome to Arno Campaign

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

One of 22 Asian Pacific Americans to be awarded the Medal of Honor at White House ceremonies on 22 June 2000. His citation reads as follows:

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.

Also awarded posthumously
Bronze Star
Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
World War II Victory Medal

Additional information

'We looked different, that's about all. This country was our country...Our boys were over there, so we wanted to go, too. We wanted to go even though we were behind barbed wire. That's what people don't understand.' (June 22, 2000, Honolulu Advertiser)
--Mr. Isao Tanouye, brother of Ted