George Sakato facts for kids
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Sakato.
George Taro Sakato was a brave American soldier who lived from 1921 to 2015. He earned the highest military award in the United States, the Medal of Honor. He received this special medal for his amazing courage during World War II.
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Growing Up: George Sakato's Early Life
George Sakato was born in Colton, California. His parents had moved to America from Japan. George was a Nisei, which means he was a second-generation Japanese-American. This means his parents were born in Japan, but he was born in the United States.
He finished high school at Redlands High School in Redlands, California.
During World War II, many Japanese-American families faced unfair treatment. To avoid being sent to special camps, George's family moved to Arizona. These camps were called internment camps.
George Sakato's Military Service
Joining the Army
George Sakato joined the U.S. Army in March 1944. He chose to be part of a special group called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This army unit was made up mostly of Nisei soldiers. These were Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland United States.
Earning the Medal of Honor
In October 1944, George Sakato showed incredible bravery during a battle. For his actions, he first received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). This was the Army's second-highest award.
Years later, in the 1990s, the government looked again at the records of Asian American soldiers who received the DSC in World War II. They decided that George Sakato's actions were even more heroic. So, his award was changed to the Medal of Honor.
On June 21, 2000, President Bill Clinton gave George Sakato his Medal of Honor. This special ceremony took place at the White House. Twenty-one other Asian American soldiers also received the medal that day. Only seven of them were still alive to accept it.
Later Life and Passing
George Sakato passed away in Denver, Colorado on December 2, 2015. He was 94 years old.
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