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Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 390 Medal of Honor recipients interred in VA national cemeteries.

» Medal of Honor recipients buried or memorialized here:

Captain Willibald C. Bianchi (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, for actions near Bagac, Province of Bataan, Philippine Islands, February 3, 1942. He was captured in April 1942 and held as a prisoner of war. Bianchi died at sea, along with other prisoners on the Japanese transport ship, Enoura Maru, in January 1945. He is memorialized in Section MA, Site 39.

Private Erwin Jay Boydston (Boxer Rebellion). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for actions in Peking, China, July 21–August 17, 1900. Boydston died in 1957 and is buried in Section G, Site 703.

Private First Class William Robert Caddy (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in recognition of gallantry and self-sacrifice to protect others during the seizure of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, March 3, 1945. Caddy is buried in Section C, Site 81.

First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Battery H, 6th Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, in recognition of courageous disregard of his own condition during the bombardment of Sand Island, Midway Islands, December 7, 1941. Cannon was mortally wounded that day and is buried in Section C, Site 1644.

Corporal Anthony Peter Damato (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, in recognition of gallantry and self-sacrifice that saved the lives of comrades on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshal Islands, February 19–20, 1944. Damato is buried in Section A, Site 334.

Commander George Fleming Davis (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor as commanding officer of USS Walke (DD-723) covering minesweeping operations in preparation of the Lingayen Gulf invasion on January 6, 1945. That day, his ship was attacked by four Japanese suicide planes. The crew shot down the first two, but the third struck the ship's bridge where Davis was directing fire from. This plane enveloped the bridge in burning gasoline. Severely burned and injured, Davis rallied his men to save their ship and saw his crew destroy the fourth suicide plane. After assuring his ship was saved, he relinquished his post for medical attention and died shortly after. He was buried at sea. An "in memory of marker" is located in Section MA, Site 98-E.

Sergeant William G. Fournier (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company M, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, in recognition of actions at Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, January 1943. Fournier was killed in action on January 13, 1943, and is buried in Section C, Site 462.

Private First Class Barney F. Hajiro (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company I, 442nd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in recognition of extraordinary heroism in action near Bruyeres and Biffontaine, France, October 19, 22, and 29, 1944. His award came after Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen. Twenty-one Asian Americans, including Hajiro, who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. Hajiro died in 2011 and is buried in Section G, Site 75.

Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William David Halyburton, Jr. (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Marine Rifle Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in recognition of unwavering devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, May 10, 1945. Halyburton was killed that day and is buried in Section O, Site 274.

Private Mikio Hasemoto (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, in recognition of extraordinary heroism near Cerasuolo, Italy, November 29, 1943. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Hasemoto was killed in action on December 1, 1943, and is buried in Section D, Site 338.

First Lieutenant William Deane Hawkins (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Scout Sniper Platoon, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, in recognition of actions at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 21, 1943. Hawkins was killed in action and is buried in Section B, Site 646.

Private Shizuya Hayashi (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, in recognition of extraordinary heroism near Cerasuolo, Italy, November 29, 1943. His award came after Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen. Twenty-one Asian Americans, including Hayashi, who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. Hayashi died in 2008 and is buried in Section V, Site 464.

Chief Boatswain Edwin Joseph Hill (World War II). Edwin Joseph Hill was born 1895 in Philadelphia, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1912. Chief Boatswain Hill was serving on the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The Nevada was the only battleship to escape the harbor that day, and Hill led the effort to release the ship from her moorings. He dove off the ship to cast off the lines and swam back to assume his duties on board, but he was killed when a bomb struck the bow. Hill received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions during the attack, and he is buried in Section A, Site 895.

Captain Daniel K. Inouye (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company E, 442nd Infantry Regiment, in recognition of extraordinary heroism in action near San Terenzo, Italy, April 21, 1945. His award came after Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen. Twenty-one Asian Americans, including Inouye, who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. After his military service, Inouye served as a member of Congress, first elected to the House of Representatives in 1959 when Hawaii became a state, and to the Senate in 1962. Inouye died in 2012 and is buried in Section D, Site 391-A.

Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro (Vietnam). Kaneshiro was born in Honolulu, HI, in 1928, the eighth of sixteen siblings. He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and served a few overseas non-combat tours prior to deployment to South Vietnam. He received his Medal of Honor posthumously for actions as an Infantry Squad Leader with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Division near Phu Huu 2 in the Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on December 1, 1966. In this engagement, part of his unit was ambushed by North Vietnamese soldiers concealed in a trench system. Kaneshiro went towards the gunfire and crawled forward alone to attack the entrenched enemies with his rifle and six grenades. He swept the trench and allowed for the extraction of his unit and larger withdrawal from the village. He died in another combat action on March 6, 1967, leaving behind a wife and five children. President Joseph Biden presented his Medal of Honor to his son John on July 5, 2022. Kaneshiro is buried in Section W, Site 262.

Second Lieutenant Yeiki Kobashigawa (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, for extraordinary heroism in action near Lanuvio, Italy, June 2, 1944. His award came after Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen. Twenty-one Asian Americans, including Kobashigawa, who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. Kobashigawa died in 2005 and is buried in Section CT8-E Row 500 Site 536.

Staff Sergeant Robert T. Kuroda (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company H, 442nd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in recognition of extraordinary heroism in action near Bruyeres, France, October 20, 1944. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Kuroda was killed in action on October 20, 1944, and is buried in Section D, Site 92.

Corporal Larry Leonard Maxam (Vietnam). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, in recognition of actions as fire team leader during an assault on the district headquarters in the Cam Lo District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, February 2, 1968. Maxam was killed in action and is buried in Section J, Site 388.

Private First Class Martin O. May (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division, in recognition of the extreme tenacity with which he held firm during the fight for Iegusuku-Yama, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, April 19–21, 1945. May was killed in action April 21, and is buried in Section N, Site 1242.

Gunnery Sergeant Robert Howard McCard (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, in recognition of valiant fighting spirit and sacrifice of his life to insure the safety of his crew during the battle for Saipan, Marianas Islands, June 16, 1944. McCard is buried in Section B, Site 1024.

Sergeant LeRoy A. Mendonca (Korea). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company B., 7th Infantry, 3d Division, in recognition of actions that stalled an assault and protected his platoon, enabling the retention of a vital hilltop position near Chich-on, Korea, July 4, 1951. Mendonca was killed that day and is buried in Section Q, Site 1408.

Private First Class Kaoru Moto (World War II). Kaoru Moto was born April 25, 1917, in the sugar plantation town of Sprecklesville, Hawaii. A second-generation Japanese American, or Nisei, he was a field laborer after completing grade school. Private First Class Moto enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1941 and served in the 100th Infantry, one of four segregated units. After the war, Moto oversaw Maui Veterans Cemetery. In the 1990s, Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen and twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000. Moto was among them. He died August 26, 1992, and was recognized posthumously for actions on July 7, 1944, near Castellina, Italy. He is buried in Section CT2-F Row 400 Site 422.

Sergeant Joseph E. Muller (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division, in recognition of heroic self-sacrifice to save comrades near Ishimmi, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, May 16, 1945. Muller is buried in Section N, Site 1259.

Private First Class Masato Nakae (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, for extraordinary heroism in action near Pisa, Italy, August 19, 1944. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Nakae died in 1998 and is buried in Section U, Site 1446.

Private Shinyei Nakamine (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, in recognition of extraordinary heroism in action near La Torreto, Italy, June 2, 1944. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly presented the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Nakamine was killed in action on June 2, 1944, and is buried in Section D, Site 402.

Captain Allan M. Ohata (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, 34th Infantry Division, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cerasuolo, Italy, November 29–30, 1943. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Ohata died in 1977 and is buried in Section III, Site 474.

Private Joseph William Ozbourn (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, in recognition of actions and self-sacrifice that saved comrades during the battle for Tinian Island, Marianas Islands, in July 1944. Ozbourn died July 28, 1944, and is buried in Section F, Site 77.

Private First Class Herbert K. Pililaau (Korea). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company C, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in recognition of indomitable fighting spirit and self-sacrifice near Pia-Ri, Korea, September 17, 1951. Pililaau is buried in Section P, Site 127.

Radio Electrician Thomas James Reeves (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Navy on board USS California, in recognition of distinguished conduct in line of his profession, courage, and disregard for his own safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Reeves is buried in Section A, Site 884.

Second Lieutenant Joseph R. Sarnoski (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, in recognition of resolute defense of his aircraft at the price of his life over Buka Area, Solomon Islands, June 16, 1943. Sarnoski is buried in Section A, Site 582.

Platoon Sergeant Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith (Vietnam). Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith, native of Hawaii, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953. Smith served with the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, during the Vietnam War. On February 16, 1967, Smith and comrades were attacked but he directed a counter strike until dying of wounds. Smith received the Medal of Honor on October 3, 1968. He is buried in Section W, Site 131 .

Sergeant Grant Frederick Timmerman (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service as a tank commander in the U.S. Marine Corps, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, in recognition of exceptional valor in saving his men at the cost of his own life on Saipan, Marianas Islands, July 8, 1944. Timmerman is buried in Section A, Site 844.

Captain Francis B. Wai (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor for service in the U.S. Army, 34th Infantry Regiment, in recognition of determined efforts to secure the beachhead in Leyte, Philippines Islands, October 20, 1944. After Congress authorized a re-examination of commendations received by minority servicemen, twenty-one Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross were belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000. His award was posthumous. Wai was killed in action on October 20, 1944, and is buried in Section Q, Site 1194.

Major Benjamin F. Wilson (Korea). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, for actions near Hwach'on-Myon, Korea, June 5, 1951. Wilson died in 1988 and is buried in Section A, Site 1060-A.

Sergeant First Class Rodney J. T. Yano (Vietnam). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life near Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam, January 1, 1969. Yano is buried in Section W, Site 614.

Other Burials
John A. Burns, U.S. Army, Section N, Site 828-A, former Governor of the State of Hawaii, interred on April 9, 1975.

Born in Nevada, Norman Keith Collins (1911–1973) is known as "Sailor Jerry" for his tattoo artistry and influence over the craft. Collins grew up in northern California and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1928. Seaman Collins served until 1932. Wanderlust took Collins early; he hopped freight trains across the country before sailing the Pacific Ocean and moving to Hawaii. He learned the art of tattooing on these travels, to Alaska and later Chicago. Collins opened a studio in Honolulu's Chinatown. He popularized the practice of single-use needles and is known for advancements in sterilization as well as his development of pigments and designs that became iconic. Sailor Jerry is celebrated each June with a festival in Oahu, where he spent most of his life—creating body art, playing the saxophone, hosting a radio show, and giving boat tours of the islands. He died June 12 (Section T, Row 124).

Young-Oak Kim (1919–2005) grew up in Los Angeles' Bunker Hill neighborhood. Unable to join the military until the draft was extended to Asian Americans for World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and served with the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion. Captain Kim was wounded during the liberation of Biffontaine, France. His many citations for valor include two Purple Hearts and Distinguished Service Cross, plus honors bestowed by the Italian and French governments. Kim reenlisted during the Korean Conflict and became the first minority officer to command a battalion on the battlefield. Colonel Kim retired in1972. The Korean government honored him in 2003 for his social work at home where his advocacy was equally demonstrated; the University of California Riverside Center for Korean American Studies is named for him. Kim died December 29 (Section CT9-G, Row 400, Site 458).

Paul Kinlahcheeny, native of New Mexico, was a member of the 5th Division, U.S. Marine Corps. PFC Kinlahcheeny was a Navajo Code Talker in the Pacific Theater during World War II. In 2001, the Navajo Code Talkers were presented with the Congressional Silver Medal. Kinlahcheeny's honor was posthumous. He was killed on Iwo Jima February 19, 1945 (Section E, Site 311).

Spark Masayuki Matsunaga, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Section V, Site 334-B, former U.S. Senator, interred on April 19, 1990.

Patsy Takemato Mink was born in 1927 in Hawaii to Japanese immigrants. Despite the growing racial prejudice after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and drew the United States into World War II, Mink persevered. She was the first female president of her high school and its valedictorian in 1944. In graduate school, she met and married fellow student 1st Lt. John F. Mink​, who served during World War II. Discrimination led her to politics as a champion of social justice, civil rights, education and welfare. Her efforts were integral to the passage of Title IX, the educational amendment stipulating for equal funding for men's and women's athletics and academics. In 1965 Hawaiians elected Mink as the first woman of color to serve in Congress. She served in the House of Representatives in two eras: 1965–1977 and 1990–2002. She died in 2002 and was reelected posthumously. Mink was buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific with her husband (Section U, Site 1001-B​).

Born in 1901, Clara (Haili) Nelson taught elementary school before embarking on a show-business career as "Hilo Hattie." The singer-actress was known for her hula routine, a comedic turn that entertained her students with before she ascended the stage. Hilo Hattie performed full-time beginning in 1940, on the radio broadcast Hawaii Calls and made the movie, Song of the Islands. During World War II she lived in San Francisco and performed regularly at the St. Francis Hotel. After the war, Los Angeles and Las Vegas venues lured her to the mainland where she married World War II veteran and violinist Carlyle F. Nelson, U.S. Army TSGT​. Hilo Hattie returned to Hawaii in 1960 and performed through the 1970s. Career highlights include the film Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley and the television show Hawaii Five-O. She died December 12, 1979 (Section U, Site 653-A).

Born in Hawaii, Ellison Shoji Onizuka was a distinguished military graduate of the University of Colorado who received a U.S. Air Force commission. Lt. Col. Onizuka entered active duty in January 1970 as an aerospace engineer at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center. In 1975, Col. Onizuka became a squadron flight test officer and led the engineering support section at Edwards Air Force Base. This work led him to become, in 1978, a NASA Mission Specialist. Col. Onizuka was part of the support team for the first two shuttle missions and joined the Discovery crew in flight in 1985. He was one of seven crew members aboard space shuttle Challenger when it exploded on lift off January 28, 1986. Col. Onizuka posthumously received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004, bestowed on individuals who perish during flight. (Section D, Site 1).

Ernest Taylor Pyle​, Seaman Third Class, U.S. Navy, Section D, Site 109, interred on July 19, 1949. Pyle, a World War II correspondent, was killed by a Japanese sniper on Ie Shima, an island off the northern coast of Okinawa on April 18, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart by former President Ronald Reagan.

Charles Lacy Veach was born in Chicago but considered Hawaii home. He studied engineering management and received a commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1966. Col. Veach served as a fighter pilot in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including combat missions in the Republic of Vietnam. He left active duty in 1981 but continued to fly F-16s for the Texas Air National Guard. In 1982, NASA invited Veach to Houston's Johnson Space Center to work as an engineer and research pilot. He served as a mission specialist on two space shuttle missions, 1991–1992. He died October 3, 1995 (Section CT3-J Row 200 Site 233).