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First Name: Shizuya

Last Name: Hayashi

Birthplace: Waiakea, HI, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)







Date of Birth: 28 November 1917

Date of Death: 12 March 2008

Rank: Private

Years Served: 1941 - 1945
Shizuya Hayashi
'Cesar'

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Shizuya 'Cesar' Hayashi
Private, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Private Shizuya Hayashi (28 November 1917 - 12 March 2008) was a U.S. Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Cerasuolo, Italy, during World War II.

Shizuya Hayashi was born on 28 November 1917 in Waiakea, Oahu, HI. He is the son of immigrants who were born in Japan. He is a Nisei, which means that he is a second generation Japanese-American.

After his actions in taking over a German position despite superior numbers, Hayashi was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. That DSC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor after military review. The review was conducted on the belief that racial discrimination prevented Hayashi and several other soldiers of Asian descent from being awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor. Due to the review, twenty-one other soldiers also received the Medal.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army.

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

Citation: Private Shizuya Hayashi distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 November 1943, near Cerasuolo, Italy. During a flank assault on high ground held by the enemy, Private Hayashi rose alone in the face of grenade, rifle, and machine gun fire. Firing his automatic rifle from the hip, he charged and overtook an enemy machine gun position, killing seven men in the nest and two more as they fled. After his platoon advanced 200 yards from this point, an enemy antiaircraft gun opened fire on the men. Private Hayashi returned fire at the hostile position, killing nine of the enemy, taking four prisoners, and forcing the remainder of the force to withdraw from the hill. Private Hayashi'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.

In a ceremony at the White House on 21 June 2000, Hayashi was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously.

After being recognized with the Medal, Hayashi was a guest speaker at various events including being an honored guest at the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force.

Death and Burial

Shizuya "Cesar" Hayashi died of cancer on 12 March 2008, in Honolulu, HI. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI, in Section V, Site 464.

He is survived by a son and two daughters.



Origin of Nickname/Handle:
He was given the nickname "Cesar" because his sergeant could not pronounce his name.

Honoree ID: 1439   Created by: MHOH

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