In the midst of a bloody war that raged across both the Pacific and Atlantic, a Japanese-American hero by the name of Kaoru Moto rose out from the island of Hawaii. His parents were Japanese, which meant that he was a nisei, a second generation Japanese-American. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, he transferred to the 100th Infantry Battalion with other Japanese-Americans, grouped together and labeled collectively as those who might possibly subvert and betray. Despite these suspicions, the unit still faithfully fought under the American flag. He was awarded four military awards, the most notable one being the Medal of Honor, which he rightfully deserved for his acts of bravery and persistence in battle but did not receive until 2000.
Discrimination at Home, Courage Abroad
On December 7th, 1941, Japanese airplanes launched an attack on Pearl Harbor, killing many soldiers and civilians. This caused America to enter the second world war and fight against Japan and Germany. However, conflict was not only occurring overseas, but within the borders as well. Japanese civilians were facing discrimination from fellow Americans simply due to their race. In 1942, Roosevelt issued an executive order to incarcerate Japanese Americans, putting nearly 120,000 individuals in camps where they lost assets, connections, and morale. These camps, also known as “assembly centers”, were racetracks or fairgrounds, where Japanese Americans were held and tagged until they were sent to their residence until the war ended.
While many Nisei were being imprisoned, some chose to fight for America, Kaoru Moto being one of them. Despite growing discrimination, Moto continued his service for the American army and was moved to the 100th Infantry Battalion, a unit composed mostly of Hawaiian-born Nisei. Indeed, Moto’s son Brian Moto remarks that the Hawaiian culture of loyalty and love shaped the platoon to find purpose in fighting for America. The 100th Infantry Battalion were first sent to Africa, then to Europe, and their successful campaigns proved them to be more than capable of action.
Kaoru Moto was one of the bravest soldiers in the battalion. In Italy, Moto was severely shot by an enemy sniper. Yet, stumbling upon a machine gun nest, rather than avoiding it to preserve his life, Moto braved enemy territory. By the end, Moto took out three machine-gun teams and captured several German prisoners on his own. For his heroic acts, Moto was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but many believed his actions warranted more.
Nevertheless, it was not until 2000 that officials reviewed Asian-American service records for soldiers who did not receive deserved awards and honors due to discrimination. After a finished investigation, a total of 22 Asian Americans received due honors, with President Clinton awarding Private First Class Moto his well-deserved Medal of Honor. In face of distrust and contempt from his countrymen, Moto’s faithful and courageous service is an inspiration and encouragement for generations today.
