William Nakamura facts for kids
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Nakamura.
William Kenzo Nakamura (born January 21, 1922 – died July 4, 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.
Growing Up in Seattle
Nakamura was born in Seattle, Washington. His parents had moved there from Japan. He was a Nisei, which means he was a second-generation Japanese-American.
During World War II, his family, like many other Japanese-Americans, was sent to a special camp. They were kept at Minidoka in Idaho. This was a difficult time for many families.
A Heroic Soldier
Nakamura joined the U.S. Army in July 1943. He volunteered to be part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This was a special army unit made up mostly of Nisei soldiers. These soldiers were Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland United States.
In July 1944, Nakamura showed incredible bravery. For his actions, he was first given the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). This was 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. William Nakamura's award was then changed to the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award in the United States.
On June 21, 2000, his family received his medal at the White House. President Bill Clinton presented the award to them. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the Medal of Honor that day. Only seven of them were still alive to accept it themselves.
Honoring His Memory
Nakamura is the namesake of a building in Seattle. The William Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse is named after him. This means the building was named to honor his memory and bravery.
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 memorial at the University of Washington
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Medal of Honor
