James K. Okubo

James Kazuo Okubo (, May 30, 1920 – January 29, 1967) was a United States Army soldier.Kakesako, Gregg K. "AJA medic’s medal may be upgraded," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 15, 2009; 2012-12-29. He was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II.US Army Center of Military History (CMH), "Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II (M-S)" ; retrieved 2012-12-29.

Early life Okubo was born in Anacortes, Washington.Penta, Mia. "Japanese American Soldiers Celebrated," Asian Week. April 6, 2001; retrieved 2012-12-29, and graduated from Bellingham High School. His parents were Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.

Following the signing of Executive Order 9066, the Okubo family was interned at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in California; and then they relocated to the camp at Heart Mountain in Wyoming.

Military service Okubo joined the US Army in May 1943.NARA, WWII Army Enlistment Record #39914547 (Okubo, James K.); retrieved 2012-12-29.

Okubo volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team.Go for Broke National Education Center, "Medal of Honor Recipient Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo" ; retrieved 2012-12-29. This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland."100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry" at Global Security.org; retrieved 2012-12-29.

For his actions in October 1944, Okubo was awarded the Army's third-highest decoration, the Silver Star. After the war, he became a dentist in Detroit, and was killed in a car accident on January 29, 1967.

In the 1990s, there was a review of service records of Asian Americans who received the Silver Star during World War II. Okubo's award was one of those upgraded to the Medal of Honor and in a ceremony at the White House, on June 21, 2000, the formal presentation was made by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the nation's highest military honor during the ceremony, but unfortunately, only seven were still alive to receive it."21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor" at University of Hawaii Digital History ; retrieved 2012-12-27.

Okubo's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in eastern France in 1944.

The words of Okubo's citation explain: Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo's 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.Gomez-Granger, Julissa. (2008). Medal of Honor Recipients: 1979–2008, "Okubo, James K.," pp. 16–17 [PDF 20–21 of 44]; retrieved 2012-12-29.

Personal life and education

After high school , Okubo attended Western Washington University, where he participated in the ski and press clubs.

After the war, Okubo relocated his family to Michigan. There, he received his undergraduate degree at Wayne State University and acquired his dentistry degree from the University of Detroit, where he became a professor after establishing his practice.

Awards and decorations

BadgeCombat Medical Badge1st rowMedal of HonorBronze Star MedalArmy Good Conduct Medal2nd rowAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal

Namesake Okubo is the namesake of the Okubo Family Health Clinic at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington."Okubo Family Medical Health Clinic" ; retrieved 2012-12-29.

The Okubo Barracks at the Fort Sam Houston in Texas are named after the Nisei soldier.Air Force Housing, "JBSA-Fort Sam Houston," Okubo Barracks ; retrieved 2012-12-29. The barracks are now used for wounded soldiers.Christenson, Sig. "Wounded GIs get round-the-clock care," San Antonio Express-News, September 7, 2009; retrieved 2012-12-29.

James K. Okubo

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