Sadao Munemori

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Sadao S. Munemori
August 17, 1922-April 5, 1945

Place of birth	Los Angeles, California
Place of death	Killed in action at Seravezza, Italy
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Rank	Private First Class
Unit	US Army 100th Infantry Battalion
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor

Sadao S. Munemori (August 17, 1922 – April 5, 1945) was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, after he sacrificed his life to save those of his colleagues, at Seravezza, Italy, during the closing stages of World War II. Munemori was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army, in Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

"He fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy's strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machineguns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved two of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance."

[edit] Namesakes

The interchange between the I-105 and I-405 freeways in Los Angeles is labeled the "Sadao S. Munemori Memorial Interchange", and Private Sadao S. Munemori is a reserved name in the U.S. Army, and was used as the name of a troop ship, USNS Private Sadao S. Munemori (T-AP-190), between 31 October 1947 and the 1970s. Munemori Hall, located on the grounds of the U.S. Army Reserve Center in West Los Angeles, California, is named in his honor.