Kiyoshi K. Muranaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiyoshi K. Muranaga
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Kiyoshi K. Muranaga, Medal of Honor recipient
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| Born | February 16, 1922 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | June 26, 1944 (aged 22) near Suvereto, Italy † |
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1944 |
| Rank |  Private First Class |
| Unit | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Kiyoshi K. Muranaga (born February 16, 1922 – died June 26, 1944) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He received the highest award for military bravery in the United States, the Medal of Honor. He earned this award for his actions during World War II.
Contents
Kiyoshi K. Muranaga: A War Hero
Growing Up in California
Kiyoshi Muranaga was born in California. His parents were immigrants from Japan. He was a Nisei, which means he was a second-generation Japanese-American. He grew up in Gardena, California, with his nine younger brothers and sisters.
During World War II, the U.S. government issued Executive Order 9066. This order forced many Japanese-American families to move to special camps. Kiyoshi and his family were sent to the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado.
Joining the Army
Kiyoshi Muranaga joined the U.S. Army in May 1943. He chose to be part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This special army unit was made up almost entirely of Japanese-American soldiers. Many of them came from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.
Kiyoshi was killed in action in Italy on the very first day the 442nd fought there. He was only 22 years old.
The Medal of Honor
For his brave actions in June 1944, Kiyoshi was first given the Army's second-highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Later, in the 1990s, the government reviewed the records of Asian-American soldiers from World War II. Because of this review, Kiyoshi Muranaga's award was changed to the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery a soldier can receive.
On June 21, 2000, his family went to the White House. President Bill Clinton presented them with Kiyoshi's Medal of Honor. Twenty-one other Asian-American soldiers also received the Medal of Honor that day. Most of these awards were given after the soldiers had died.
Kiyoshi Muranaga was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
His Family's Service
Kiyoshi was not the only soldier in his family. His brothers, Kenichi and Yoshio, also served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Their youngest brother, Tomi, was a soldier in the Korean War.
See also
