George T. Sakato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George T. Sakato
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Private George Sakato, US Army
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| Birth name | George Taro Sakato |
| Nickname(s) | Joe |
| Born | February 19, 1921 Colton, California |
| Died | December 2, 2015 (aged 94) Denver, Colorado |
| Place of burial |
Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1945 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Company E, 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Presidential Unit Citation Emblem Good Conduct Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Combat Infantryman Badge |
George Taro "Joe" Sakato (February 19, 1921 – December 2, 2015) was an American combat soldier of World War II who received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award for valor.
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Biography
Sakato was born in Colton, California. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation born American citizen of Japanese descent. He graduated from Redlands High School in Redlands, California.
The Sakato family moved to Arizona during World War II to avoid internment.
World War II
Sakato joined the US Army in March 1944.
He volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team and was assigned to 3rd platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion. The US Army unit was mostly made up of Americans of Japanese descent from Hawaii and the mainland.
Sakato was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for extraordinary heroism on October 29, 1944, in France.
Post World War II
In the 1990s, there was a review of US military service records of Americans of Asian descent who received the DSC during World War II. Sakato's award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Bill Clinton presented Sakato the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000. Twenty-one other American servicemen of World War II of Asian descent also were presented the Medal of Honor during the ceremony, but only seven were living recipients. Sakato died in the evening of December 2, 2015 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 94.
See also
