Joe M. Nishimoto

Private First Class Joe Maori Nishimoto was a United States Army soldier. He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.

Early life

Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas, following the signing of Executive Order 9066.

Soldier

Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943.
Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.
For his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross. He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.

Medal of Honor citation

Nishimoto's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944.
Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor citation reads: