Originally published: 2026-03-25T13:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
On June 2, 1944, in the rugged terrain near La Torreto, Italy, a young man from Honolulu displayed the “extraordinary heroism” we think about on Medal of Honor Day.
This is the story of Army Pvt. Shinyei Nakamine, a Nisei soldier of the legendary “Purple Heart Battalion.” Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) was composed primarily of Japanese Americans who fought with a ferocity and devotion that earned them a place in history. They would eventually join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and become the most decorated unit for its size and length of service.
A one-man offensive
On that June afternoon, the company’s mission hit a deadly wall of German machine-gun crossfire. Pinned down 200 yards from a hostile knoll, the situation was dire. On his own initiative, Nakamine began a series of valorous actions:
- The First Nest: He crawled through the dirt to within 25 yards of an enemy position. He charged, firing his submachine gun, killing three and capturing two.
- The Flank: Later that day, he spotted an enemy scout on the right flank. Again, he crawled 25 yards closer and neutralized the threat.
- The Second Nest: Spotting another nest 75 yards away, he returned to his platoon, grabbed an automatic rifle team, and led them back. He crawled to within grenade range, wounding one and capturing four more.
The ultimate sacrifice
After these heroic feats, Nakamine wasn’t finished. Spotting a third machine-gun nest 100 yards to his right, he once again led his team toward the danger. It was during this final push that he was killed by a burst of machine-gun fire. He was 24 years old.
A delayed honor
For decades, the full extent of the heroism displayed by Nisei soldiers like Nakamine wasn’t fully recognized at the highest level. That changed on June 21, 2000.
President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to Nakamine’s sister, Anita Korenaga, in a ceremony at the White House.
Rest in peace
Private Nakamine is laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
He remains a symbol of the “Go For Broke” spirit—a reminder that courage transcends race and that the cost of freedom is often borne by the young and the brave.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
