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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa , US Army 100th Infantry Battalion
On June 2, 1944 Tech Sergeant Yeiki Kobashigawa participated in a battle near Lanuvio, Italy. His platoon came under fire from a number of machinegun placements. With one of his men Kobashigawa crawled toward a nest 50 yards away. Kobashigawa threw a grenade, then charged the position. He killed one soldier and captured two others. He and his comrade began receiving fire from a second machinegun 50 yards ahead. Kobashigawa directed one squad to move up to the captured nest, then crawled toward the second machinegun nest with one other soldier. Kobashigawa threw a grenade into the nest, then provided supporting fire while the other soldier charged the nest. After capturing four enemy soldiers, Kobashigawa spotted four more machinegun nests and led his squad in neutralizing two of them.
President Bill Clinton presents the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa, one of 12 Hawaii men so honored yesterday.
CITATION: Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). Place and date: Lanuvio, Italy, 2 June 1944. Birth: 28 September 1917, Hilo, Hawaii Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii. Technical Sergeant Yeiki Kobashigawa distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 2 June 1944, in the vicinity of Lanuvio, Italy. During an attack, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawas platoon encountered strong enemy resistance from a series of machine guns providing supporting fire. Observing a machine gun nest 50 yards from his position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa crawled forward with one of his men, threw a grenade and then charged the enemy with his submachine gun while a fellow soldier provided covering fire. He killed one enemy soldier and captured two prisoners. Meanwhile, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa and his comrade were fired upon by another machine gun 50 yards ahead. Directing a squad to advance to his first position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa again moved forward with a fellow soldier to subdue the second machine gun nest. After throwing grenades into the position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa provided close supporting fire while a fellow soldier charged, capturing four prisoners. On the alert for other machine gun nests, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa discovered four more, and skillfully led a squad in neutralizing two of them. Technical Sergeant Kobashigawas extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
President Bill Clinton awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa
The following information was circulated about Yeiki Kobashigawa courtesy of Jim Yamashita of the Americans of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance in Los Angeles:
T/Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa
Yeiki Kobashigawa, was born on September 28, 1917 in Waikea, Hawaii. He is the son of Shintsu.and Kame Shimabukuro Kobashigawa Before entering the service he worked on the Waianae Sugar Plantation.
On November 14,1941, Yeiki Kobashigawa was inducted into the Army (Serial No 30101851)
at Schofield Barracks, Oahu. He trained at Schofield Barracks with the 298th Infantry Regiment and was promoted to temporary Corporal. He later trained at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He was promoted to Tech Sergeant on March 19, 1943, and saw service in the continental United States, Africa, Italy, and France. During the Salerno to Cassino Campaign in Italy, he was shot in the right chest. In addition to the awards Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Good Conduct Medal, T/Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was upgraded to Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor for valor in combat for heroism and presented at a White House ceremony on June 21, 2000 by President William J. Clinton.
After the War, Yeiki worked for Gaspro Hawaii and later for Hawaiian Cement until his retirement in 1980. He married Haruko Miyashiro, and they have two sons Merle and Floyd and one daughter Jill Kobashigawa Yamashiro and two granddaughters Shari and Sharla Kobashigawa.
Yeiki Kobashigawa in uniform, taken in 1942.
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