Koichi Kenneth Sekimura

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Koichi Kenneth Sekimura (30103033), 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, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, on 22 October 1944, in the town of Biffontaine, France. When his platoon, engaged in fierce house-to-house fighting, was denied advancement by the enemy in a building well-defended with automatic weapons and rifles, Private Sekimura voluntarily advanced on the enemy-occupied building. Although under heavy machine pistol fire, Private Sekimura, utilizing the corner of a building for cover, succeeded in throwing two fragmentation grenades into the enemy-occupied position, wounding three, causing the abandonment of the structure by the enemy, and thereby contributed immeasurably to the subsequent occupation of the town. His actions, without regard for his own safety, reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.