Shinyei Nakamine (1920–1944), U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient
Shinyei Nakamine was a Japanese American (Nisei) soldier in the U.S. Army who was killed in World War II and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after a later review that recognized his valor.
Overview
Shinyei Nakamine (January 21, 1920 – June 2, 1944) was a Japanese American soldier who served in the United States Army during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in combat that cost him his life. In Japanese usage his family name is Nakamine; readers may consult general notes on Japanese names and differing name order conventions when examining contemporary records.
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Early life
Nakamine was born to Japanese immigrant parents and belonged to the Nisei generation (second-generation Japanese Americans). Like many of his peers, he grew up between two cultures and lived through a period of intense scrutiny of Japanese Americans after the outbreak of war in the Pacific. Despite social pressures and the complexity of wartime loyalties, he entered military service with other American citizens of Japanese descent.
Military service and actions
While serving on the front lines in 1944, Nakamine took part in combat operations that led to his death on June 2, 1944. Official accounts and witness testimony credited him with conspicuous gallantry during the engagement. Those acts were deemed to have met the criteria for the United States' highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor.
Review and recognition
Decades after the war, Nakamine's record—along with the records of many Asian American service members—was reviewed to address possible wartime discrimination in awards and decorations. As a result of that review, his recognition was upgraded and he was included among veterans honored in a later group award ceremony that sought to correct past oversights.
Legacy
Nakamine is remembered both as an individual who displayed bravery in combat and as part of the broader history of Japanese American military service in the mid-20th century. His story is cited in discussions of civil rights, military history, and the efforts to reconcile the treatment of minority service members. Memorials, unit histories and family remembrances continue to preserve his name and service.
- Born: January 21, 1920
- Died: June 2, 1944
- Service: United States Army
- Award: Medal of Honor (posthumous)
- Conflict: World War II
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Shinyei Nakamine (1920–1944), U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/89849
Sources
- history.army.mil : "Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II (M-S)"
- aad.archives.gov : WWII Army Enlistment Record #30101852 (Nakamine, Shinyei)
- goforbroke.org : "Medal of Honor Recipient Private Shinyei Nakamine"
- globalsecurity.org : "100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry" at Global Security.org
- digitalhistory.uh.edu : "21 Asian American World War II Vets to Get Medal of Honor" at University of Hawaii Digital History
- history.army.mil : "Asian Pacific American Medal of Honor recipients"
- senate.gov : "Nakamine, Shinyei," pp. 14-15 [PDF 18-19 of 44]