World War II Honoree

Paul William Nishimuta

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cushing, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 20. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP SHELBY AT HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI. HIS UNIT SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MAY 1, 1944 AND LANDED AT ANZIO, ITALY ON MAY 28, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN ITALY, SOUTHERN FRANCE AND GERMANY WITH THE 442ND INFANTRY 'GO FOR BROKE' REGIMENT (REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM). HIS REGIMENT WAS COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY. HIS UNIT ENTERED COMBAT NORTH OF ROME, ITALY IN JUNE, 1944 AND PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, RHINELAND, NORTH APENNINES, PO VALLEY, AND SOUTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. FOUGHT AT THE TOWN OF BELVEDERE, ITALY BEGINNING JUNE 26, 1944 IN A FIERCE FIREFIGHT, THEN TOOK THE TOWN OF CECINO ON JULY 1, 1944 AND MOVED FORWARD TO THE ARNO RIVER ON JULY 2, 1944. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL DURING COMBAT IN ITALY, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS BATTALION IN COMBAT NEAR BIFFONTAINE, FRANCE IN OCTOBER, 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.