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MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
TECHNICAL SERGEANT YUKIO OKUTSU
Unit: Company F, 442nd Regimental Combat Team,
U.S. Army
Place of heroic deed: Mount Belvedere, Italy
Date of heroic deed: April 7, 1945
Date of passing: August 24, 2003
CITATION
Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu distinguished himself by extraordinary
heroism in action on 7 April 1945, on Mount Belvedere, Italy.
While his platoon was halted by the crossfire of three machine
guns, Technical Sergeant Okutsu boldly crawled within 30 yards
of the nearest enemy emplacement through heavy fire. He destroyed
the position with two accurately placed hand grenades, killing
three machine gunners. Crawling and dashing from cover to cover,
he threw another grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding
two enemy soldiers, and forcing two others to surrender. Seeing
a third machine gun, which obstructed his platoon’s advance,
he moved forward through heavy small arms fire and was stunned
momentarily by rifle fire, which glanced off his helmet. Recovering,
he bravely charged several enemy riflemen with his submachine
gun, forcing them to withdraw from their positions. Then, rushing
the machine gun nest, he captured the weapon and its entire crew
of four. By these single-handed actions he enabled his platoon
to resume its assault on a vital objective. The courageous performance
of Technical Sergeant Okutsu against formidable odds was an inspiration
to all. Technical Sergeant Okutsu’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.
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