Ted Tanouye facts for kids
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Tanouye.
Ted Takayuki Tanouye (born November 14, 1919 – died September 6, 1944) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He earned the highest military award, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.
Early Life
Ted Tanouye was born in Torrance, California. His parents had moved to America from Japan. Ted was a Nisei, which means he was a second-generation Japanese-American.
During World War II, many Japanese-American families, including the Tanouyes, were sent to special camps. This was called internment. The Tanouye family first lived at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas. Later, they moved to the camp at Rohwer War Relocation Center, also in Arkansas.
A Soldier's Story
Just two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ted Tanouye joined the U.S. Army in February 1942. He wanted to serve his country.
Ted volunteered to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This was a special army unit made up almost entirely of Nisei soldiers. Many of these brave Japanese-American soldiers came from Hawaii and the mainland United States.
In July 1944, Ted showed incredible courage. For his actions, he was first given the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), which is the Army's second-highest award. Years later, in the 1990s, the records of Asian Americans who received the DSC during World War II were reviewed. Ted Tanouye's award was then changed to the Medal of Honor.
On June 21, 2000, a special ceremony was held at the White House. President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to Ted Tanouye's family. Twenty-one other Asian-American soldiers also received this medal that day. Only seven of them were still alive to accept it themselves.
Honoring His Name
Ted Tanouye is remembered in his hometown. The National Guard Armory in Torrance, California, is named after him. This means it is the namesake of Ted Tanouye.
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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Medal of Honor
