John Yukio Tanaka

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to John Yukio Tanaka (37708538), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company C, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, on 20 January January 1945, in the vicinity of the Maritime Alps, France. During a raid on an enemy-occupied house, Private Tanaka charged forward, firing his automatic rifle to draw enemy fire away from his comrades. In doing so he was mortally wounded. Summoning his last bit of strength, he fired a burst from his BAR, fatally wounding an enemy machine pistol gunner who was endangering the lives of his comrades, Private Tanaka’s gallant action was largely responsible for the killing of two Germans and the capturing of 12 others. Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving