World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. A Japanese-American native of Hawaii, he received the award from President Bill Clinton at the White House on June 21, 2000 for his actions as a private with Company I, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, US Army, on October 19, 22, and 29, 1944, near Bruyeres and Biffontaine, France. He dropped out of school in order to support his family and two months following the US entry into World War II, he joined the US Army. In March 1943 he volunteered to be part of the Army's all-Niesi 442nd Regimental Combat Team. that was comprised mostly of second-generation Americans citizens of Japanese descent from Hawaii and the mainland. The unit was sent to the European Theater of Operations and in May 1944 it saw action in Italy and was then redeployed to France. On October 19, 1944, he repeatedly distinguished himself in battle by exposed himself to enemy fire while assisting an attack, and three days later he and a comrade ambushed an 18-man enemy patrol. On October 29, during the rescue of the so-called "Lost Battalion", which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges Mountains, he single-handedly destroyed two German machine gun emplacements. Afterwards, in another firefight, he was shot in the shoulder and wrist leaving his left arm partially paralyzed, and he was sent back to the US to recover. He was also awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the British Military Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and the French Liberation Medal. He was originally awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism; however, following a review in the late 1990s of Distinguished Service Cross awards to Japanese American soldiers, his award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor whose citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 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."