World War II Honoree

Richard S. Yamamoto

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honored By

Fumio Serikawa

Relationship

Acquaintance

DECEMBER 7, 1941-JANUARY 21, 1942. AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS CADETS REPORTED FOR DUTY WITH THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD; ASSIGNED TO GUARD VARIOUS VITAL INSTALLATIONS UNTIL THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD WAS INACTIVATED. FEBRUARY 25, 1942-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 INFANTRY REGIMENT. ON MARCH 25, 1943, INDUCTED INTO 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT; AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI WAS ASSIGNED TO 2ND BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY AND RECEIVED BASIC AND ADVANCED TRAINING; FOUGHT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATION WITH THE 'GO FOR BROKE' 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM; BATTLES AND CAMPAIGN: ROME-ARNO,NORTH APENNINES, RHINELAND, PO VALLEY; DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: AMERICAN CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH 4 STRIPES, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, BRONZE CLUSTER, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.