Photo By Sgt. Joshua Edwards | The hallways at Thomas C. Cario Middle School are covered with stories about Medal of...... read more read more
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -“In the dark, I was running down the mountain as flares and mortars rained down all around me. I finally found the road and started running back toward where I knew other American Soldiers would be, but in the darkness I couldn’t see the barbwire that had been placed across the road and I became entangled.”
Cpl. Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, Medal of Honor recipient, recounted his story to the students of Thomas C. Cario Middle School, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Oct. 1.
Miyamura was drafted into the Army in 1944 near the end of World War II. He served briefly with the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a famous Japanese-American unit, and was discharged from the active Army shortly after Japan surrendered in 1945.
Following the war, Miyamura enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and later was recalled to active duty following the start of the Korean War. During the war he served in Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.
Once in Korea, Miyamura had been in the field almost continually for seven months as the joint United Nations Forces were driving to retake Seoul. During the night on Apr. 22, 1951, the Chinese attacked in force along the Imjin River. By dawn the swarming enemy had overwhelmed the defending forces and the Americans began to withdraw across the river. Miyamura's squad of 16 Soldiers were ordered to take up defensive positions on a nearby hill. The Chinese attack began with bugles and whistles on the night of April 24, 1951.
Miyamura relived the night and how he received our nations highest military award, the Medal of Honor, through his actions that saved the lives of all 16 members of his squad.
According to the citation and Miyamura’s verbal accounts of the night of April 24, 1951, Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy fanatically attacked, threatening to overrun their position.
Miyamura, a machinegun squad leader, aware of the imminent danger to his men unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet and engaged in hand-to-hand combat, killing approximately 10 of the enemy.
Returning to his position, he administered first aid to the wounded and directed their evacuation. As another assault hit the line, he manned his machinegun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition was expended. Miyamura then ordered the squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative.
He then bayoneted his way through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation. When the intensity of the attack necessitated the withdrawal of the company, Miyamura ordered his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement.
He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was depleted and he was severely wounded.
Miyamura maintained his stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to repel the attack until his position was overrun.
When last seen by members of his squad he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers.
Miyamura recounted the story of his capture and the events of the days to follow to the Cario students, “I was lying face down, but I didn’t move because I didn’t know if they were the enemy or ours. I heard the noise die down, and then thought I was safe but before I even moved I heard a voice in English saying, ’Get up, you’re my prisoner. Don’t worry we have a lenient policy. We won’t harm you.’"
That was when Miyamura then first realized he was injured when he tried to get up. He had received leg wounds from grenades.
"We didn’t have any medical assistance from the Chinese. We had to doctor our own wounds," said Miyamura. "We helped each other out."
However, for Miyamura and the other prisoners of war, tending to their wounds would become the least of their worries over the passing months.
"I never had any side effects from my wounds, but I had dysentery almost the first month or so because we were drinking water that wasn’t good," he said.
Miyamura recalled how they would travel from one village to the next, where another group of guards would be waiting to take them to the next village.
The trek and the lack of adequate nourishment wore down some of the soldiers, many of whom were very young.
Miyamura said, “We lost a lot of Soldiers due to the fact that they wouldn’t eat or drink anything.”
The days in captivity passed into months and the months passed into more than two years. "For over a year we heard rumors that we were going to go home, that peace talks are going well. Then the next thing we would hear is that they are not going well," he said, "It got to the point later that we thought we would never be released."
“I didn’t want to think about what was happening," Miyamura said. "I wanted to concentrate on raising a family once I got home. I think that’s what kept me going."
After spending 28 months as a POW Miyamura was released on Aug. 20, 1953. He was then repatriated to the United States and was honorably discharged from the Army shortly thereafter.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented the Medal of Honor to Miyamura in October 27, 1953 at the White House.
Miyamura’s Medal of Honor was classified Top Secret by the military due to the fact that Miyamura was captured by the North Koreans and held as a prisoner of war immediately after the heroic actions that led to the award. It was feared that if his captors knew of his actions, he would be singled out for torture and possible execution.
Brig. Gen. Ralph Osborne, 3rd Infantry Division Commander, explained, "If the Reds knew what he had done to a good number of their soldiers just before he was taken prisoner, they might have taken revenge on this young man. He might not have come back."
After Miyamura recounted the story to the students, a few of them asked Miyamura questions about his life since receiving the Medal of Honor.
One student asked how had it changed his life. Miyamura replied, “I could have never done this, I was always very shy and did not like standing up and talking to people. Now I talk all the time.”
“My experiences have made me see things differently and now I know that I can do anything. Anyone can do anything if they try,” said Miyamura.
At a small reception, after Miyamura spoke to the students, Staff Sgt. Bernard White, C Company, 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., was promoted to Sgt. 1st Class by Miyamura.
“It was an honor and one I never expected,” said White after his promotion.
Before leaving Miyamura said, “I feel a great sense of pride when I see the young men and women in uniform today. It is great to know that the future of this country continues to serve.”
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2010 08:54 |
| Story ID: | 58544 |
| Location: | MT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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