Background
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents.
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents.
He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American. He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas, Nishimoto joined the United States Army in October 1943. Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion.
This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.
He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.
He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World World War World War II Foreign his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army"s second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. Nishimoto"s Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944. Private First Class Nishimoto"s official reads:.
After three days of unsuccessful attempts by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge, Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area.
