Mikio Hasemoto
Private, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Private Mikio Hasemoto (13 July 1916 - 29 November 1943) was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic action in Cerasuolo, Italy, during World War II.

Mikio Hasemoto was born on 13 July 1916 in Honolulu, HI, and was of Asian Pacific descent. When he was killed, he was with the 100th Infantry Battalion attempting to repel an attack by numerically superior German forces.

Hasemoto was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1944 but, upon military review on 21 June 2000, it was determined that the DSC should be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army

Place and date: Near Cersasulo, Italy, 29 November 1943.

Citation: Private Mikio Hasemoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 November 1943, in the vicinity of Cerasuolo, Italy. A force of approximately 40 enemy soldiers, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, rifles, and grenades, attacked the left flank of his platoon. Two enemy soldiers with machine guns advanced forward, firing their weapons. Private Hasemoto, an automatic rifleman, challenged these two machine gunners. After firing four magazines at the approaching enemy, his weapon was shot and damaged. Unhesitatingly, he ran 10 yards to the rear, secured another automatic rifle and continued to fire until his weapon jammed. At this point, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader had killed approximately 20 enemy soldiers. Again, Private Hasemoto ran through a barrage of enemy machine gun fire to pick up an M-1 rifle. Continuing their fire, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader killed 10 more enemy soldiers. With only three enemy soldiers left, he and his squad leader charged courageously forward, killing one, wounding one, and capturing another. The following day, Private Hasemoto continued to repel enemy attacks until he was killed by enemy fire. Private Hasemoto'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.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Death and Burial

Private Mikio Hasemoto was killed in action on 29 November 1943. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, in Section D, Grave 338.