James Okubo facts for kids
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Okubo.
James K. Okubo (born May 30, 1920 – died January 29, 1967) was a very brave soldier in the United States Army. He is famous for receiving the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery a soldier can get in the U.S. He earned this medal for his amazing actions during World War II.
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James Okubo's Early Life
James K. Okubo was born in Anacortes, Washington, a town in the United States. His parents had moved to America from Japan.
James was a Nisei. This special word means he was a second-generation Japanese-American. His parents were immigrants, but James was born in the U.S.
During World War II, many Japanese-American families were sent to special camps. The Okubo family was first sent to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in California. Later, they were moved to another camp called Hart Mountain in Wyoming.
Serving in the Army
James Okubo joined the U.S. Army in May 1943. He chose to volunteer for a special group.
This group was called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It was unique because it was made up almost entirely of Nisei soldiers. These were Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. They fought bravely for their country.
Medal of Honor Actions
In October 1944, James Okubo showed incredible courage. For his actions, he was first given the Silver Star. This was the Army's third-highest award for bravery.
Years later, in the 1990s, the U.S. government reviewed the records of many Asian American soldiers. They looked at those who had received the Silver Star during World War II.
After this review, James Okubo's award was changed. It was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award in the United States.
On June 21, 2000, a special ceremony was held at the White House. President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to James Okubo's family. Twenty-one other Asian American soldiers also received the medal that day. Only seven of them were still alive to accept it themselves.
Places Named After James Okubo
James Okubo is the namesake for several places. This means these places are named in his honor.
The Okubo Family Health Clinic is named after him. It is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
Also, the Okubo Barracks at Fort Sam Houston in Texas are named after this brave Nisei soldier.
Related pages
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- List of Asian American Medal of Honor recipients
- Posthumous recognition
Images for kids
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The Medal of Honor, the highest military award in the U.S.
