World War II Honoree

Yoshiyuki Hirano

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Paia, Hawaii

Honored By

Fumio Serikawa

ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 AS A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS CADETS, REPORTED FOR DUTY WITH THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD; SERVED AT HONOLULU, HAWAII GUARDING VITAL INSTALLATIONS DURING THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED. ON JANUARY 24, 1942, AFTER 1 MONTH AND 19 DAYS OF ACTIVE DUTY, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FOR REASON OF INACTIVATION OF UNIT. FEBRUARY 25, 1942 TO JANUARY 31, 1943. VOLUNTEERED FOR THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS, A GROUP OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS RECLASSIFIED AS '4C'; ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES; PLEDGED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REGAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY; ASSEMBLED PREFAB HOUSES, CLEARED DRAINAGE DITCHES, BUILT ROADS, CRUSHED ROCKS FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND PARTICIPATED REGULARLY IN BLOOD DRIVES AND WAR BOND PURCHASES UNTIL THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS WAS DISBANDED TO ALLOW ITS MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEWLY CREATED, ALL NISEI, 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT. ON MARCH 24, 1943, INDUCTED INTO 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT; TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI; SHIPPED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATION AS REPLACEMENT FOR THE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 100TH BATTALION; SERVED WITH THE 'GO FOR BROKE' 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ROME-ARNO, PO VALLEY, NORTH APENNINES, RHINELAND. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: BRONZE STAR MEDAL; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER; ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL; EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS; WWII VICTORY MEDAL; COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE 1ST AWARD; HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON WWII; MARKSMAN BADGE WITH RIFLE BAR.