Hirono Statement on Two Hawaii Medal of Honor Recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Biden awarding the Medal of Honor to four U.S. army soldiers—including two from Hawaii—who fought in the Vietnam War:
“Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro and Specialist Five Fujii are heroes to this country, and I am proud to see two Hawaii veterans being recognized with the Medal of Honor for their brave and selfless actions during the Vietnam War. I’d like to extend my aloha and gratitude to them both for their service and sacrifice.
“I had the privilege to speak with Mr. Fujii last week to congratulate him and personally thank him for his service to our country. Servicemembers like Mr. Fujii and Mr. Kaneshiro risk their lives to protect our nation, and we have an obligation to support them following their service. I am committed to continuing my work to ensure every veteran in Hawaii and across the country has access to the health care, resources, and benefits they deserve.”
Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro received the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an infantry squad leader near Phu Huu 2, Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on Dec. 1, 1966. Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro and his team entered the village of Phu Huu 2 while on a search and destroy mission and were attacked by North Vietnamese. Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro destroyed one enemy group with rifle fire and two others with grenades, which enabled the orderly extrication and reorganization of the platoon and ultimately led to a successful withdrawal from the village. He served in Vietnam between July 18, 1966, until his death on March 6, 1967, as a result of a hostile gunshot wound.
Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii received the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as crew chief aboard a helicopter ambulance during rescue operations in Laos and the Republic of Vietnam from February 18 – 22, 1971. During a mission to evacuate wounded Vietnamese military personnel, Specialist Five Fujii’s medevac helicopter took on enemy fire and was forced to crash land. Although injured, he waved off a rescue from another helicopter and remained behind as the only American on the battlefield. During that night and the next day, although wounded, he administered first aid to allied casualties. For more than 17 hours, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he left the security of his entrenchment to better observe enemy troop positions and to direct air strikes against them until an American helicopter could attempt to airlift him from the area. Upon completion of his tour, he joined the Army Reserve and currently resides in Hawaii.
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