WW2 Distinguished Service Cross Recipient

*KODA, KIICHI (KIA)
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Kiichi Koda (30101862), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 9 July 1944, near Castellina, Italy. Reaching a point fifty yards from its objective, Private First Class Koda's platoon received a volley of German machine gun and machine pistol fire from a wooded area. Private First Class Koda, accompanied by four comrades with fixed bayonets, charged into the woods. Firing their rifles from the hip whenever they spotted an enemy position, he and his comrades completely disrupted and disorganized the Germans in the area. Completing his mission, Private First Class Koda rejoined his squad which had been ordered to flank and guard a castle, the objective of an adjacent company. The enemy opened fire on the platoon with machine guns. Sensing the danger of a possible German attack, Private First Class Koda requested permission from his platoon leader to capture the castle. Instructing his comrades to cover his approach, he moved forward to a point five yards from the castle. Spotting an open window, he tossed a grenade into the building; then crept to each successive window, repeating the operation until he had completely circled the structure. Rejoining his squad, Private First Class Koda led his comrades, with fixed bayonets, into the castle. In the ensuing fight Private First Class Koda was mortally wounded by an enemy hand grenade; but as a result of his intrepid performance, three prisoners were captured, ten Germans killed, and five machine guns and four machine pistols were taken. Private First Class Koda's fearless courage and fighting spirit were an inspiration to his fellow soldiers and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 153 (September 23, 1944)
Born: January 28, 1915 at Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii
Home Town: Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii