Minoru Kunieda

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Minoru Kunieda (30101708), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company D, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on 20 August 1944, near Riglione di Pisa, Italy. When an enemy reconnaissance patrol infiltrated to within four yards of a machine gun position manned by Private First Class Kunieda and another soldier, their machine gun failed to function. Private First Class Kunieda, with complete disregard for his own safety and armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, forced the enemy patrol to withdraw. His courage and determination were instrumental in successfully defending an important position in his unit’s sector against a superior enemy force.