Background
Muranaga was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents.
Muranaga was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents.
He is a Nisei, which means that he is a second generation Japanese-American. He was interned with his family at the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado. Muranaga joined the United States Army in May 1943.
Muranaga volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland. Muranaga was killed on the first day of action for the 442nd in Italy.
Muranaga, aged 22 at his death, was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. Muranaga"s brothers were also soldiers.
Kenichi (1924–2009) and Yoshio (1923–2008) also were in the 442nd.
The youngest brother Tomi (born since 1935) was a soldier in of Korea. Private First Class.