Overview
Masato Nakae (December 20, 1917 – September 4, 1998) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his conduct during World War II. His award recognizes acts of extreme bravery and sacrifice performed under combat conditions. The basic facts of his life—dates of birth and death and his status as a Medal of Honor recipient—are the foundation for his historical profile.
Name and identity
The name appears in the style of a Japanese naming convention. In documents and references that use traditional ordering, the given name and family name may be presented differently than in Western usage; the family name in this case is Nakae. Such notes help readers recognize cultural naming differences when consulting military records and historical sources.
Nakae served in the U.S. Army during a period when the nation relied on soldiers from a wide range of backgrounds. The Medal of Honor he received is awarded sparingly to those whose actions are judged to be above and beyond the call of duty. While details of the specific engagement are part of military records, his decoration places him among a small group of service members honored for extraordinary valor in World War II.
Context and significance
Masato Nakae's story is often discussed alongside broader narratives about soldiers who fought during World War II and the complex social environment of the time. Many service members who received high decorations became symbols of courage and helped shape public memory of the conflict. Because the Medal of Honor is a central element of that recognition, recipients like Nakae are frequently cited in studies of military history and remembrance.
Legacy and remembrance
Key points about Masato Nakae include:
- Born December 20, 1917; died September 4, 1998.
- Served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
- Recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in combat.
His life and award are part of the public record and are cited in historical treatments of the war and military honors. For readers seeking primary documents or official citations, consult military archives and reputable historical collections that preserve Medal of Honor citations and service records.
Overall, Masato Nakae is remembered as one of the individuals whose wartime conduct earned the United States' highest military decoration and whose biography contributes to understanding the human dimensions of World War II.
Japanese naming and name order notes, links to the family name form, and references to the U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor, and World War II above provide starting points for further research.