Joe Hayashi facts for kids
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Hayashi.
Joe J. Hayashi (born August 14, 1920 – died April 22, 1945) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He earned the Medal of Honor for his amazing actions during World War II. This is the highest award a soldier can get in the U.S. Army.
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Joe Hayashi's Early Life
Joe Hayashi was born in Salinas, California. His parents had moved to America from Japan. Joe was a Nisei. This means he was a second-generation Japanese-American. He was born in the U.S., but his parents were from Japan.
Joining the Army
Joe joined the U.S. Army in May 1941. This was about six months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Joe volunteered to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This was a special army unit. Most of the soldiers in it were Nisei Japanese Americans. They came from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.
Earning the Medal of Honor
In April 1945, Joe Hayashi showed incredible bravery. For his actions, he first received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). This was the Army's second-highest award.
Later, in the 1990s, the U.S. government reviewed many awards. They looked at the records of Asian American soldiers who got the DSC during World War II. Joe Hayashi's award was then changed to the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award in the United States.
On June 21, 2000, a special ceremony took place. It was held at the White House. President Bill Clinton presented the medal to Joe's family. Twenty-one other Asian American soldiers also received the Medal of Honor that day. Only seven of them were still alive to accept their medals.
Related Pages
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- List of Asian American Medal of Honor recipients
- Awards given after death
Images for kids
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The Medal of Honor
