William K . Nakamura William Kenzo Nakamura ( January 21 , 1922 – July 4 , 1944 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Early life . Nakamura was born in Seattle to Japan ese immigrant parents . He is a " Nisei " , which means that he is a second generation Japanese - American . His family was interned in Minidoka in Idaho during World War II . Soldier . Nakamura joined the US Army in July 1943 . Nakamura volunteered to be part of the all - " Nisei " 442nd Regimental Combat Team . This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland . On July 4 , 1944 , Nakamura was serving as a private first class in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team . On that day , near Castellina , Italy , he single - handedly destroyed an enemy machine gun emplacement and later volunteered to cover his unit ' s withdrawal . He was then killed while attacking another machine gun nest which was firing on his platoon . For his actions in July 1944 , he was posthumously awarded the Army ' s second - highest decoration , the Distinguished Service Cross . A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Nakamura ' s award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor . In a ceremony at the White House on June 21 , 2000 , his surviving family 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 . Nakamura , aged 22 at his death , was buried in Evergreen - Washelli Memorial Park , Seattle , Washington . The William Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse in Seattle , Washington is named in his honor . Medal of Honor citation . Private First Class Nakamura ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : Private First Class William K . Nakamura distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 4 July 1944 , near Castellina , Italy . During a fierce firefight , Private First Class Nakamura ' s platoon became pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from a concealed position . On his own initiative , Private First Class Nakamura crawled 20 yards toward the hostile nest with fire from the enemy machine gun barely missing him . Reaching a point 15 yards from the position , he quickly raised himself to a kneeling position and threw four hand grenades , killing or wounding at least three of the enemy soldiers . The enemy weapon silenced , Private First Class Nakamura crawled back to his platoon , which was able to continue its advance as a result of his courageous action . Later , his company was ordered to withdraw from the crest of a hill so that a mortar barrage could be placed on the ridge . On his own initiative , Private First Class Nakamura remained in position to cover his comrades ' withdrawal . While moving toward the safety of a wooded draw , his platoon became pinned down by deadly machine gun fire . Crawling to a point from which he could fire on the enemy position , Private First Class Nakamura quickly and accurately fired his weapon to pin down the enemy machine gunners . His platoon was then able to withdraw to safety without further casualties . Private First Class Nakamura was killed during this heroic stand . Private First Class Nakamura ' 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 .