LIHU‘E — This month, Kaua‘i veterans honor a recipient of the nation’s highest medal, the Medal of Honor, which is awarded for courage and bravery on the battlefield. Featured is a homegrown son of Kaua‘i, Masato Nakae. Nakae was born
LIHU‘E — This month, Kaua‘i veterans honor a recipient of the nation’s highest medal, the Medal of Honor, which is awarded for courage and bravery on the battlefield. Featured is a homegrown son of Kaua‘i, Masato Nakae.
Nakae was born in Ha‘ena. Later, the family moved to Rice Camp in Lihu‘e. According to his brother, Kiyoshi Nakae of Hanama‘ulu, there were three boys and one girl in the family. Masato Nakae was the eldest, and due to the death of their father he could not continue his education and was required to work to supplement the family’s income.
All three brothers eventually served in the U.S. Army, but only Masato Nakae served with the 100th/442nd during World War II. They served during a period when Japanese-Americans were having difficulties receiving the trust of the nation due to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Despite the distrust obviously displayed to these loyal Americans, they faithfully served without one shred of evidence of disloyalty. The 100th/442nd was an all-Japanese Nisei (first generation of Japanese born in the United States) unit and their actions during the war reflected that they were undoubtedly loyal citizens of this country. There was never a case of desertion or absence without leave.
Masato Nakae was drafted into service in February 1942. He worked as a construction laborer and later transferred to the 442nd Infantry Regiment when it was activated in February 1943. He was one of the first replacements sent from the 442nd to the 100th Infantry which was then actively engaged in combat in Italy. The 442nd later moved into combat in June 1944 and the 100th became the only numbered unit of the 442nd.
During a 10-month period of intense fighting, the 100th was awarded 1,000 Purple Hearts (medals for wounds sustained in combat), 31 Bronze Stars, three Legion of Merit awards, 44 Silver Stars and nine Distinguished Service Crosses.
Although engaged in numerous battles against a hostile force, Nakae’s act of extraordinary heroism occurred on Aug. 19, 1944 near Pisa, Italy. During an intense battle, his machine gun was damaged by a shell fragment during a fierce attack by a superior enemy force. Private Nakae quickly picked up his wounded comrade’s M-1 rifle and fired rifle grenades at the steadily advancing enemy.
As the hostile force continued to close in on his position, Nakae threw six grenades and forced them to withdraw. During a concentrated enemy mortar barrage that preceded the next assault by the enemy force, a mortar shell fragment seriously wounded Nakae.
Despite his injury, he refused to surrender his position and continued firing at the advancing enemy. By inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy force, he finally succeeded in breaking up the attack and caused the enemy to withdraw. Nakae was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Masato was discharged on November 1945. He eventually met and married Haruko Nishikawa of Kane‘ohe, which was the town where they permanently decided to relocate and call home. They had one daughter, Anne (Nakae) Kuroda.
According to his son-in-law, Randall Kuroda, Masato Nakae “refused to discuss his combat experiences with anyone.”
The award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor after Congress directed the secretary of the Army to review all awards of the DSC to determine if racial bias had influenced the awards process.
Masato Nakae passed away in 1998 so was unaware that in 2000 the DSC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
In ceremonies in Washington, D.C., daughter Anne Kuroda represented Masato Nakae and accepted the medal from President Bill Clinton. Haruko Nakae passed away in 1969. Masato Hanae’s siblings and other family members were well-represented at the ceremonies.
On June 21, 2006, Freedom Square at Camp Darby, Italy, was renamed in honor of Masato “Curly” Nakae. Camp Darby is an Army installation located about 10 minutes from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Besides his brother Kiyoshi from Hanama‘ulu and daughter, Anne Kuroda of O‘ahu, Masato Kanae is survived by his younger sister Misayo Morimoto of Lihu‘e.
