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Kuroda, Robert Toshio

Date of birth:
November 8th, 1922 (Alea/Territory of Hawaii, United States)
Date of death:
October 20th, 1944 (Bruyères, France)
Buried on:
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Service number:
30104463
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Unit:
442nd Regimental Combat Team, 92nd Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1944

Posthumously awarded
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Unit:
442nd Regimental Combat Team, 92nd Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Awarded on:
June 21st, 2000
Staff Sergeant Robert T. Kuroda distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action, on 20 October 1944, near Bruyères, France. Leading his men in an advance to destroy snipers and machine gun nests, Staff Sergeant Kuroda encountered heavy fire from enemy soldiers occupying a heavily wooded slope. Unable to pinpoint the hostile machine gun, he boldly made his way through heavy fire to the crest of the ridge. Once he located the machine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced to a point within ten yards of the nest and killed three enemy gunners with grenades. He then fired clip after clip of rifle ammunition, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy. As he expended the last of his ammunition, he observed that an American officer had been struck by a burst of fire from a hostile machine gun located on an adjacent hill. Rushing to the officer's assistance, he found that the officer had been killed. Picking up the officer’s submachine gun, Staff Sergeant Kuroda advanced through continuous fire toward a second machine gun emplacement and destroyed the position. As he turned to fire upon additional enemy soldiers, he was killed by a sniper. Staff Sergeant Kuroda’s courageous actions and indomitable fighting spirit ensured the destruction of enemy resistance in the sector. Staff Sergeant Kuroda'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.

Awarded posthumously
Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

1 campaign star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Sources

Photo