Takeyasu Thomas Onaga

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Takeyasu Thomas Onaga (30105347), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, on 29 October 1944, near Epinal, France. While searching for a vantage point from which to fire his bazooka, an enemy shell burst in his vicinity, toppling a tree upon his comrade and fracturing his arm. Private Onaga stood up in the face of the enemy fire, lifted the tree and enabled the injured man to crawl free. Moving forward he sighted an enemy machine gun 10 to 15 yards from him, and after crawling to a flank position threw a hand grenade which killed the gunner. As he prepared to throw another grenade he was wounded in the neck by a sniper. Instead of calling for help he ran for a distance of 50 yards to a medical aid man and while receiving treatment died of his wound. His actions, without regard for his own safety, reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.