Shizuya Hayashi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shizuya Hayashi
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Shizuya Hayashi
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| Nickname(s) | Cesar |
| Born | November 28, 1917 Waialua, Oahu, Hawaii |
| Died | March 12, 2008 (aged 90) Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941 – 1945 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 100th Infantry Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross |
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Hayashi.
Shizuya Hayashi (born November 28, 1917 – died March 12, 2008) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He earned the highest military award, the Medal of Honor, for his amazing actions during World War II.
Contents
Shizuya Hayashi: A True War Hero
Early Life in Hawaii
Shizuya Hayashi was born in Waiakea, Hawaii. His parents had moved there from Japan. He 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 America.
Joining the Army
In March 1941, Shizuya Hayashi joined the U.S. Army. This was about nine months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His sergeant found his name hard to say, so they gave him the nickname "Cesar."
Hayashi chose to join a special army group called the 100th Infantry Battalion. This unit was made up mostly of Nisei soldiers, who were Japanese-Americans from Hawaii and other parts of the United States.
A Brave Soldier in Battle
In November 1943, Shizuya Hayashi showed incredible bravery. For his actions, he first received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). This was the Army's second-highest award for courage.
Years later, in the 1990s, the military reviewed the records of Asian-American soldiers who had received the DSC during World War II. They decided that Hayashi's actions were even more heroic than first recognized. His award was then upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
On June 21, 2000, President Bill Clinton presented Shizuya Hayashi with his Medal of Honor. This special ceremony took place at the White House. 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 in person.
Images for kids
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The Medal of Honor, America's highest military award.
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