Barney Fushimiro Hajiro was born on sep 16, 1916 in Puunene, Maui County, Hawaii. The son of Japanese immigrants, he was raised in Hawaii and drafted into the US Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In March 1943 he volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of second-generation Japanese Americans, and first saw action with that unit in Italy in May 1944. The 442nd was then redeployed to France, and over a 10-day period (October 19 to October 29, 1944) Hajiro displayed consistent heroism in combat against the Germans in the eastern part of that country. In the process he received wounds that left him unfit for further combat duty. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts.

A review of his service record in the 1990s led to Hajiro's DSC being upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor, and on June 21, 2000, he was presented with the CMOH by President Bill Clinton. His citation reads: "Private Barney F. Hajiro distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 19, 22, and 29 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres and Biffontaine, eastern France. Private Hajiro, while acting as a sentry on top of an embankment on 19 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres, France, rendered assistance to allied troops attacking a house 200 yards away by exposing himself to enemy fire and directing fire at an enemy strong point. He assisted the unit on his right by firing his automatic rifle and killing or wounding two enemy snipers. On 22 October 1944, he and one comrade took up an outpost security position about 50 yards to the right front of their platoon, concealed themselves, and ambushed an 18-man, heavily armed, enemy patrol, killing two, wounding one, and taking the remainder as prisoners. On 29 October 1944, in a wooded area in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France, Private Hajiro initiated an attack up the slope of a hill referred to as 'Suicide Hill' by running forward approximately 100 yards under fire. He then advanced ahead of his comrades about 10 yards, drawing fire and spotting camouflaged machine gun nests. He fearlessly met fire with fire and single-handedly destroyed two machine gun nests and killed two enemy snipers. As a result of Private Hajiro's heroic actions, the attack was successful. Private Hajiro's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army." At the time of his death at 94, Hajiro was the oldest living Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

PFC Hajiro died on January 21, 2011 at the age of 94 in Waipahu, Hawaii and is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com