Hideichi Shimabukuro

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Hideichi Shimabukuro (30100587), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company C, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on 29 November 1943, in the vicinity of Colli, Italy. After having covered the successful attack of his corporal on an enemy machine gun emplacement on Hill 920, Private First Class Shimabukuro, on his own initiative and under heavy enemy sniper fire, took a position from which he could support the assault of other friendly troops against the hill. Observing a five-man enemy patrol, led by an officer, advancing up the hill toward him, Private First Class Shimabukuro permitted the patrol to approach to within ten yards of his position, whereupon he opened fire on them with his BAR, annihilating the entire patrol. Private First Class Shimabukuro’s courage and coolness under fire was an inspiration to his comrades and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.