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 (June 5, 1923 – May 6, 1980) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Early life
Ono was born in Delta, Colorado. His father was an immigrant from Japan while his mother was from Ireland. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
Soldier
Ono joined the US Army in September 1943.
He volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.
During a battle on July 4, 1944, near Castellina Marittima, Italy, Ono advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly defended his position against an enemy counter-attack. He then braved intense hostile fire to aid two wounded comrades and, when it became necessary to retreat, voluntarily covered his unit's withdrawal. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Ono left the Army while still a private first class. He died at age 56 and was buried in Highland Cemetery, North Judson, Indiana.
A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Ono's award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously.
See also
