Ichiro Roy Miyasaki
Private, U.S. Army

Ichiro Roy Miyasaki is the son of Kitaro and Mitsu Watanabe Miyasaki.

In June 1952, Private Ichiro Roy Miyasaki was serving with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 12 June, PVT Miyasaki's unit was engaged with enemy forces at Tumyong-dong, North Korea. While with his platoon on a mission to clear the area between Hills 183 and 191, an automatic rifleman was wounded early in the action and PVT Miyasaki secured the automatic weapon and continued forward with the unit through heavy mortar, artillery, and automatic-weapons fire. He was then wounded but refused evacuation or emergency treatment and pushed ahead, killing an estimated five enemy soldiers. The hostile troops fell back from the attack until they reached a small knoll defended from a bunker by six enemy soldiers armed with automatic weapons and grenades. The platoon's advance was halted here until PVT Miyasaki rushed the strongpoint, killing at least four of the defenders. The platoon then occupied the positions the enemy vacated. Hostile units regrouped and launched a counterattack. Despite his wounds, PVT Miyasaki withstood repeated assaults on his position, repulsing the enemy with heavy losses. During this action, he was killed. PVT Miyasaki's heroic actions and outstanding courage earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Ichiro R. Miyasaki (ASN: US-56061999), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Private Miyasaki distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Tumyong-dong, Korea, on 12 June 1952. While accompanying his platoon on a mission to clear the area between Hills 183 and 191, an automatic rifleman was wounded early in the action and Private Miyasaki immediately secured the automatic weapon and continued forward with the unit through heavy mortar, artillery, and automatic-weapons fore. He was wounded during this action, but refused evacuation or emergency treatment and pushed rapidly ahead, killing an estimated five of the enemy. The hostile troops fell back under the fury of the attack until they reached a small knoll defended from a bunker by six enemy soldiers armed with automatic weapons and grenades. The platoon's advance was halted here until Private Miyasaki rushed the strongpoint, killing at least four of the defending foe. The platoon then occupied the positions the enemy retreated. Hostile units regrouped and launched a determined counterattack. Despite wounds he had received, Private Miyasaki gallantly withstood repeated assaults on his position, repulsing the foe with heavy losses. During this action, he lost his life. Private Miyasaki's heroic actions, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty reflect the greatest credit on himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 49 (June 9, 1953)

Burial

Private Ichiro Roy Miyasaki is buried at Rexburg Cemetery in Rexburg, Madison County, ID.

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