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NAKAE,
MASATO
Citation:
Private Masato Nakae distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism
in action on 19 August 1944, near Pisa, Italy. When his submachine gun
was damaged by a shell fragment during a fierce attack by a superior
enemy force, Private Nakae quickly picked up his wounded comrade’s M-1
rifle and fired rifle grenades at the steadily advancing enemy. As the
hostile force continued to close in on his position, Private Nakae threw
six grenades and forced them to withdraw. During a concentrated enemy
mortar barrage that preceded the next assault by the enemy force, a
mortar shell fragment seriously wounded Private Nakae. Despite his injury,
he refused to surrender his position and continued firing at the advancing
enemy. By inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy force, he finally
succeeded in breaking up the attack and caused the enemy to withdraw.
Private Nakae’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping
with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit
on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
NAKAMINE,
SHINYEI
Citation:
Private Shinyei Nakamine
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 2 June 1944,
near La Torreto, Italy. During an attack, Private Nakamine’s platoon
became pinned down by intense machine gun crossfire from a small knoll
200 yards to the front. On his own initiative, Private Nakamine crawled
toward one of the hostile weapons. Reaching a point 25 yards from the
enemy, he charged the machine gun nest, firing his submachine gun, and
killed three enemy soldiers and captured two. Later that afternoon,
Private Nakamine discovered an enemy soldier on the right flank of his
platoon’s position. Crawling 25 yards from his position, Private Nakamine
opened fire and killed the soldier. Then, seeing a machine gun nest
to his front approximately 75 yards away, he returned to his platoon
and led an automatic rifle team toward the enemy. Under covering fire
from his team, Private Nakamine crawled to a point 25 yards from the
nest and threw hand grenades at the enemy soldiers, wounding one and
capturing four. Spotting another machine gun nest 100 yards to his right
flank, he led the automatic rifle team toward the hostile position but
was killed by a burst of machine gun fire. Private Nakamine’s extraordinary
heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions
of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the
United States Army.
NAKAMURA, WILLIAM K.
Citation: Private First Class William K. Nakamura
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 4 July 1944,
near Castellina, Italy. During a fierce firefight, Private First Class
Nakamura’s platoon became pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from
a concealed position. On his own initiative, Private First Class Nakamura
crawled 20 yards toward the hostile nest with fire from the enemy machine
gun barely missing him. Reaching a point 15 yards from the position,
he quickly raised himself to a kneeling position and threw four hand
grenades, killing or wounding at least three of the enemy soldiers.
The enemy weapon silenced, Private First Class Nakamura crawled back
to his platoon, which was able to continue its advance as a result of
his courageous action. Later, his company was ordered to withdraw from
the crest of a hill so that a mortar barrage could be placed on the
ridge. On his own initiative, Private First Class Nakamura remained
in position to cover his comrades’ withdrawal. While moving toward the
safety of a wooded draw, his platoon became pinned down by deadly machine
gun fire. Crawling to a point from which he could fire on the enemy
position, Private First Class Nakamura quickly and accurately fired
his weapon to pin down the enemy machine gunners. His platoon was then
able to withdraw to safety without further casualties. Private First
Class Nakamura was killed during this heroic stand. Private First Class
Nakamura’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping
with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit
on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
NELSON, WILLIAM L .
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry
Division. Place and date: At Djebel Dardys, Northwest of Sedjenane,
Tunisia, 24 April 1943. Entered service at: Middletown, Del. Birth:
Dover, Del. G.O. No.: 85, 17 December 1943.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty in action involving
actual conflict. On the morning of 24 April 1943, Sgt. Nelson led his
section of heavy mortars to a forward position where he placed his guns
and men. Under intense enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire,
he advanced alone to a chosen observation position from which he directed
the laying of a concentrated mortar barrage which successfully halted
an initial enemy counterattack. Although mortally wounded in the accomplishment
of his mission, and with his duty clearly completed, Sgt. Nelson crawled
to a still more advanced observation point and continued to direct the
fire of his section. Dying of handgrenade wounds and only 50 yards from
the enemy, Sgt. Nelson encouraged his section to continue their fire
and by doing so they took a heavy toll of enemy lives. The skill which
Sgt. Nelson displayed in this engagement, his courage, and self-sacrificing
devotion to duty and heroism resulting in the loss of his life, was
a priceless inspiration to our Armed Forces and were in keeping with
the highest tradition of the U.S. Army.
NEPPEL, RALPH G.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 329th Infantry,
83d Infantry Division. Place and date: Birgel, Germany, 14 December
1944. Entered service at: Glidden, Iowa. Birth: Willey, Iowa. G.O. No.:
77, 10 September 1945.
Citation: He was leader of a machinegun squad
defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December
1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked.
He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked
the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy
armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30
yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding
the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg
severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries
and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself
back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the
remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank
was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting
spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke
a determined counterattack.
NETT, ROBERT B.
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Company
E, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cognon,
Leyte, Philippine Islands, 14 December 1944. Entered service at: New
Haven, Conn. Birth: New Haven, Conn. G.O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946.
Citation: He commanded Company E in an attack
against a reinforced enemy battalion which had held up the American
advance for 2 days from its entrenched positions around a 3-story concrete
building. With another infantry company and armored vehicles, Company
E advanced against heavy machinegun and other automatic weapons fire
with Lt. Nett spearheading the assault against the strongpoint. During
the fierce hand-to-hand encounter which ensued, he killed 7 deeply entrenched
Japanese with his rifle and bayonet and, although seriously wounded,
gallantly continued to lead his men forward, refusing to relinquish
his command. Again he was severely wounded, but, still unwilling to
retire, pressed ahead with his troops to assure the capture of the objective.
Wounded once more in the final assault, he calmly made all arrangements
for the resumption of the advance, turned over his command to another
officer, and then walked unaided to the rear for medical treatment.
By his remarkable courage in continuing forward through sheer determination
despite successive wounds, Lt. Nett provided an inspiring example for
his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strongpoint.
NEW, JOHN DURY
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps. Born:
12 August 1924, Mobile, Ala. Accredited to: Alabama.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving
with the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against
enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, 25 September 1944.
When a Japanese soldier emerged from a cave in a cliff directly below
an observation post and suddenly hurled a grenade into the position
from which 2 of our men were directing mortar fire against enemy emplacements,
Pfc. New instantly perceived the dire peril to the other marines and,
with utter disregard for his own safety, unhesitatingly flung himself
upon the grenade and absorbed the full impact of the explosion, thus
saving the lives of the 2 observers. Pfc. New's great personal valor
and selfless conduct in the face of almost certain death reflect the
highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly
gave his life for his country.
NEWMAN, BERYL R.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 133d Infantry, 34th
Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cisterna, Italy, 26 May 1944.
Entered service at: Baraboo, Wis. Birth: Baraboo, Wis. G.O. No.: 5,
15 January 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty on 26 May 1944. Attacking the strongly
held German Anzio-Nettuno defense line near Cisterna, Italy, 1st Lt.
Newman, in the lead of his platoon, was suddenly fired upon by 2 enemy
machineguns located on the crest of a hill about 100 yards to his front.
The 4 scouts with him immediately hit the ground, but 1st Lt. Newman
remained standing in order to see the enemy positions and his platoon
then about 100 yards behind. Locating the enemy nests, 1st Lt. Newman
called back to his platoon and ordered 1 squad to advance to him and
the other to flank the enemy to the right. Then, still standing upright
in the face of the enemy machinegun fire, 1st Lt. Newman opened up with
his tommygun on the enemy nests. From this range, his fire was not effective
in covering the advance of his squads, and 1 squad was pinned down by
the enemy fire. Seeing that his squad was unable to advance, 1st Lt.
Newman, in full view of the enemy gunners and in the face of their continuous
fire, advanced alone on the enemy nests. He returned their fire with
his tommygun and succeeded in wounding a German in each of the nests.
The remaining 2 Germans fled from the position into a nearby house.
Three more enemy soldiers then came out of the house and ran toward
a third machinegun. 1st Lt. Newman, still relentlessly advancing toward
them, killed 1 before he reached the gun, the second before he could
fire it. The third fled for his life back into the house. Covering his
assault by firing into the doors and windows of the house, 1st Lt. Newman,
boldly attacking by himself, called for the occupants to surrender to
him. Gaining the house, he kicked in the door and went inside. Although
armed with rifles and machine pistols, the 11 Germans there, apparently
intimidated, surrendered to the lieutenant without further resistance,
1st Lt. Newman, single-handed, had silenced 3 enemy machineguns, wounded
2 Germans, killed 2 more, and took 11 prisoners. This demonstration
of sheer courage, bravery, and willingness to close with the enemy even
in the face of such heavy odds, instilled into these green troops the
confidence of veterans and reflects the highest traditions of the U.S.
Armed Forces.
NININGER, ALEXANDER R., JR.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 57th Infantry,
Philippine Scouts. Place and date: Near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands,
12 January 1942. Entered service at: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Birth: Gainesville,
Ga. G.O. No.: 9, 5 February 1942.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Abucay,
Bataan, Philippine Islands, on 12 January 1942. This officer, though
assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily
attached himself to Company K, same regiment, while that unit was being
attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. Enemy snipers in trees
and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position.
In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly
forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy
enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and handgrenades and succeeded
in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although
wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after
pushing alone far within the enemy position. When his body was found
after recapture of the position, 1 enemy officer and 2 enemy soldiers
lay dead around him.
NISHIMOTO,
JOE M.
Citation: Private First Class Joe M. Nishimoto
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 7 November
1944, near La Houssiere, France. After three days of unsuccessful attempts
by his company to dislodge the enemy from a strongly defended ridge,
Private First Class Nishimoto, as acting squad leader, boldly crawled
forward through a heavily mined and booby-trapped area. Spotting a machine
gun nest, he hurled a grenade and destroyed the emplacement. Then, circling
to the rear of another machine gun position, he fired his submachine
gun at point-blank range, killing one gunner and wounding another. Pursuing
two enemy riflemen, Private First Class Nishimoto killed one, while
the other hastily retreated. Continuing his determined assault, he drove
another machine gun crew from its position. The enemy, with their key
strong points taken, were forced to withdraw from this sector. Private
First Class Nishimoto’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are
in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect
great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
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