Frank H. Ono facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank H. Ono
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Private First Class Frank Ono
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| Born | June 5, 1923 Delta, Colorado |
| Died | May 6, 1980 (aged 56) |
| Place of burial |
Highland Cemetery, North Judson, Indiana
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943 - 1945 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Frank H. Ono (born June 5, 1923 – died May 6, 1980) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He received the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military, the Medal of Honor, for his amazing actions during World War II.
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Frank Ono's Early Life
Frank Ono was born in Delta, Colorado. His father had moved to America from Japan, and his mother was from Ireland. Frank was a Nisei, which is a special word for a second-generation Japanese-American. This means his parents were from Japan, but he was born in the United States.
A Soldier's Story
Frank Ono joined the U.S. Army in September 1943. He chose to be part of a special group called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This army unit was unique because it was made up almost entirely of Japanese-American soldiers. Many of these soldiers came from Hawaii and the mainland United States.
Heroic Actions in Italy
On July 4, 1944, during a battle near Castellina Marittima, Italy, Frank Ono showed incredible courage. He moved forward, ahead of his unit, and bravely defended his position all by himself. He stopped an enemy attack on his own.
After that, he faced very heavy enemy fire to help two of his friends who were wounded. When his unit needed to pull back, Frank Ono volunteered to stay behind and cover their retreat. This meant he protected his fellow soldiers as they moved to safety.
For his brave actions during this battle, he was first given the Army's second-highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Medal of Honor Upgrade
Frank Ono left the Army as a Private First Class. He passed away at age 56 and was buried in Highland Cemetery, North Judson, Indiana.
Years later, in the 1990s, the military reviewed the records of Asian Americans who had received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II. Because of this review, Frank Ono's award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
On June 21, 2000, a special ceremony was held at the White House. President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to Frank Ono's family. Twenty-one other Asian American soldiers also received the Medal of Honor that day. Most of these awards were given after the soldiers had passed away.
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