This week's hero is...
Yukio Okutsu
Yukio Okutsu was born on November 3, 1921. He grew up in Koloa, Hawaii. Much of his early life was very uneventful. However, although he had no way of predicting it, Okutsu would grow up to become one of America's bravest soldiers in World War II.
In March of 1943, Okutsu enlisted the 100th Infantry Battalion which was part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (a unit comprised of Japanese Americans). Two years later, he had risen to the rank of Technical Sergeant. On April 7, 1945, Sergeant Okutsu and his platoon were patrolling an area in Italy near the town of Bologna. While walking up a nearby mountain (Mount Belvedere), three enemy machine guns opened fire on the platoon.
Okutsu immediately took the initiative. He crawled to within 30 yards of one of the machine guns and threw two grenades at it. The grenades obliterated the gun and killed all three of its crew. Okutsu then crawled to the next machine gun and threw another grenade into the nest. This grenade knocked out the gun and incapacitated the crew. He then assaulted the third position and wounded all four enemy soldiers, forcing them to surrender. Less than 20 minutes after they were ambushed, Sergeant Okutsu has single-handedly stopped the ambush and saved his platoon. Soon, they continued on their patrol.
For his heroism that day, Yukio Okutsu received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple heart. By the end of World War II 442nd Regimental Combat team was one of the most highly decorated units in American history. It had also suffered so many casualties (especial the 100th) that it earned itself the nickname, "the Purple Heart Battalion" (9,486 of them). Numerous soldiers were nominated for the Medal of Honor (Okutsu included) but only one of them received it immediately after the war.
That all changed on June 21, 2000. That day, President Bill Clinton awarded 22 soldiers the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of valor during World War II. Sadly, only 7 of them were still alive to receive it. Yukio Okutsu was one of those few. Three years later, he passed away at the age of 81. Today he is remembered as a brave and remarkable hero who helped our country win World War II. Like so many before and after, he served a country that was not always grateful, yet he fought for it anyway. He is definitely someone to be held in high regard.
I wish there was more available on this great man. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find much in relating to his biography other than his service during World War II. Other than that, I have no regrets selecting him for the article. He represents the very best of those who have served our country and we owe him nothing but the utmost respect.
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