Thomas Yoshimi Ono

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Thomas Yoshimi Ono (30105796), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 2 June 1944, near La Torretto, Italy. Private Ono’s squad acted as point for the leading platoon in a daylight attack. Contacting an enemy machine gun nest, Private Ono and two companions crawled two hundred yards through a wheat field toward the hostile weapon. Reaching a position ten yards from the machine gun, each man threw fragmentation grenades, killing three Germans. Another hostile position, containing two machine guns, opened fire on Private Ono and his companions. Under intense fire he and his comrades crawled toward the second position. Nearing the enemy strongpoint, Private Ono and his comrades opened fire with their rifles and threw hand grenades to kill two, wound one, and capture four Germans. Later in the day, when his platoon had reached its objective, an enemy machine gun opened fire on the units on the left flank. Again, Private Ono and his two companions crawled toward the enemy, making their way through a vineyard to a point within ten feet of the Germans. Pinning the nest with rifle fire while one member of the squad tossed hand grenades, they boldly charged the position with fixed bayonets. Private Ono and his fellow soldiers were successful in capturing eight Germans armed with two machine guns, three machine pistols and three rifles. In a period of approximately three hours, he and his companions neutralized five machine guns, five machine pistols, and killed or captured seventeen Germans. Private Ono’s intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.