Jimmy D. Nakayama was the second son of Frank and Satoko Nakayama. He had five brothers and one sister. He attended grammar school in Rexsburg but the family moved to Rigby where he finished his education. He was popular in school and excelled in sports, especially baseball.
Jimmy's uncle, also named Jimmy Nakayama, served during WWII with the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European Theater fighting the Germans. The Team was comprised of Japanese-Americans and have a storied record for valorous performance against the enemy. Jimmy's father also served in the Army in WWII but in what capacity is unknown as of this writing.
Jimmy had been a member of the Idaho National Guard and had received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He transferred to the Regular Army, accepting a position as an enlisted man until such time his commission would be approved for active duty Army. It was during this wait that he received orders to Vietnam. Jimmy's tour in Vietnam began on Aug 19, 1965 with Charlie Company, 8TH Engineer Battalion. On November 14, 1965, Jimmy was in the Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Division at a place called "LZ X-Ray". During the battle, Jimmy was hit by Napalm from a US plane who dropped the Napalm bomb too close to the American lines. Sadly, Jimmie was in the drop zone and was horribly burned. Associated Press reporter Joe Galloway, who had met Jimmy two days earlier, was there when the Napalm hit Jimmy and has wrote about it in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once - and Young". Galloway assisted in picking Jimmy up with another soldier and took him to a helicopter for transport back to a field hospital. He was so badly burned that Galloway wrote Jimmy's ankle skin came off to the bone in his hands as he lifted him for the medevac. Jimmy died from his burns. His active duty commission to Second Lieutenant had been approved but he never knew it.
Jimmy had married his high school sweetheart, Trudie Olsen. They had one child together, a daughter, Nikki, who was born a few days before Jimmy died in Vietnam. He knew he had a baby girl but never got to see her.
Jimmy's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC on wall panel 03E 088.
Private First Class/Second Lieutenant Jimmy D. Nakayama, Sn# , earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star
- Vietnam Campaign Medal with '60 device
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Ribbon Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
- Vietnam Civil Actions Ribbon First Class Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
**NOTE - The photo accompanying this bio shows Jimmy as an officer and not a PFC and this causes visitors and researchers some confusion. Jimmy held a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard, but he wished to serve in the Regular Army. He was unable to transfer his commission directly into the regular army at the time so he opted to serve as an enlisted man until his commission was awarded to him as a regular Army officer. The photo also shows the Army engineer castles on his lapel showing he was an engineer officer so it was only natural for him to be assigned to an engineer company as an enlisted man. Reportedly, but not verified as of this writing, his regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant had been approved but had not reached him yet in Vietnam. If this was true, it is a travesty that he was not afforded the Second Lieutenant rank on his gravestone.
Jimmy's uncle, also named Jimmy Nakayama, served during WWII with the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European Theater fighting the Germans. The Team was comprised of Japanese-Americans and have a storied record for valorous performance against the enemy. Jimmy's father also served in the Army in WWII but in what capacity is unknown as of this writing.
Jimmy had been a member of the Idaho National Guard and had received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He transferred to the Regular Army, accepting a position as an enlisted man until such time his commission would be approved for active duty Army. It was during this wait that he received orders to Vietnam. Jimmy's tour in Vietnam began on Aug 19, 1965 with Charlie Company, 8TH Engineer Battalion. On November 14, 1965, Jimmy was in the Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Division at a place called "LZ X-Ray". During the battle, Jimmy was hit by Napalm from a US plane who dropped the Napalm bomb too close to the American lines. Sadly, Jimmie was in the drop zone and was horribly burned. Associated Press reporter Joe Galloway, who had met Jimmy two days earlier, was there when the Napalm hit Jimmy and has wrote about it in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once - and Young". Galloway assisted in picking Jimmy up with another soldier and took him to a helicopter for transport back to a field hospital. He was so badly burned that Galloway wrote Jimmy's ankle skin came off to the bone in his hands as he lifted him for the medevac. Jimmy died from his burns. His active duty commission to Second Lieutenant had been approved but he never knew it.
Jimmy had married his high school sweetheart, Trudie Olsen. They had one child together, a daughter, Nikki, who was born a few days before Jimmy died in Vietnam. He knew he had a baby girl but never got to see her.
Jimmy's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC on wall panel 03E 088.
Private First Class/Second Lieutenant Jimmy D. Nakayama, Sn# , earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star
- Vietnam Campaign Medal with '60 device
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Ribbon Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
- Vietnam Civil Actions Ribbon First Class Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
**NOTE - The photo accompanying this bio shows Jimmy as an officer and not a PFC and this causes visitors and researchers some confusion. Jimmy held a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard, but he wished to serve in the Regular Army. He was unable to transfer his commission directly into the regular army at the time so he opted to serve as an enlisted man until his commission was awarded to him as a regular Army officer. The photo also shows the Army engineer castles on his lapel showing he was an engineer officer so it was only natural for him to be assigned to an engineer company as an enlisted man. Reportedly, but not verified as of this writing, his regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant had been approved but had not reached him yet in Vietnam. If this was true, it is a travesty that he was not afforded the Second Lieutenant rank on his gravestone.
Jimmy D. Nakayama was the second son of Frank and Satoko Nakayama. He had five brothers and one sister. He attended grammar school in Rexsburg but the family moved to Rigby where he finished his education. He was popular in school and excelled in sports, especially baseball.
Jimmy's uncle, also named Jimmy Nakayama, served during WWII with the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European Theater fighting the Germans. The Team was comprised of Japanese-Americans and have a storied record for valorous performance against the enemy. Jimmy's father also served in the Army in WWII but in what capacity is unknown as of this writing.
Jimmy had been a member of the Idaho National Guard and had received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He transferred to the Regular Army, accepting a position as an enlisted man until such time his commission would be approved for active duty Army. It was during this wait that he received orders to Vietnam. Jimmy's tour in Vietnam began on Aug 19, 1965 with Charlie Company, 8TH Engineer Battalion. On November 14, 1965, Jimmy was in the Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Division at a place called "LZ X-Ray". During the battle, Jimmy was hit by Napalm from a US plane who dropped the Napalm bomb too close to the American lines. Sadly, Jimmie was in the drop zone and was horribly burned. Associated Press reporter Joe Galloway, who had met Jimmy two days earlier, was there when the Napalm hit Jimmy and has wrote about it in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once - and Young". Galloway assisted in picking Jimmy up with another soldier and took him to a helicopter for transport back to a field hospital. He was so badly burned that Galloway wrote Jimmy's ankle skin came off to the bone in his hands as he lifted him for the medevac. Jimmy died from his burns. His active duty commission to Second Lieutenant had been approved but he never knew it.
Jimmy had married his high school sweetheart, Trudie Olsen. They had one child together, a daughter, Nikki, who was born a few days before Jimmy died in Vietnam. He knew he had a baby girl but never got to see her.
Jimmy's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC on wall panel 03E 088.
Private First Class/Second Lieutenant Jimmy D. Nakayama, Sn# , earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star
- Vietnam Campaign Medal with '60 device
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Ribbon Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
- Vietnam Civil Actions Ribbon First Class Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
**NOTE - The photo accompanying this bio shows Jimmy as an officer and not a PFC and this causes visitors and researchers some confusion. Jimmy held a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard, but he wished to serve in the Regular Army. He was unable to transfer his commission directly into the regular army at the time so he opted to serve as an enlisted man until his commission was awarded to him as a regular Army officer. The photo also shows the Army engineer castles on his lapel showing he was an engineer officer so it was only natural for him to be assigned to an engineer company as an enlisted man. Reportedly, but not verified as of this writing, his regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant had been approved but had not reached him yet in Vietnam. If this was true, it is a travesty that he was not afforded the Second Lieutenant rank on his gravestone.
Jimmy's uncle, also named Jimmy Nakayama, served during WWII with the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European Theater fighting the Germans. The Team was comprised of Japanese-Americans and have a storied record for valorous performance against the enemy. Jimmy's father also served in the Army in WWII but in what capacity is unknown as of this writing.
Jimmy had been a member of the Idaho National Guard and had received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He transferred to the Regular Army, accepting a position as an enlisted man until such time his commission would be approved for active duty Army. It was during this wait that he received orders to Vietnam. Jimmy's tour in Vietnam began on Aug 19, 1965 with Charlie Company, 8TH Engineer Battalion. On November 14, 1965, Jimmy was in the Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Division at a place called "LZ X-Ray". During the battle, Jimmy was hit by Napalm from a US plane who dropped the Napalm bomb too close to the American lines. Sadly, Jimmie was in the drop zone and was horribly burned. Associated Press reporter Joe Galloway, who had met Jimmy two days earlier, was there when the Napalm hit Jimmy and has wrote about it in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once - and Young". Galloway assisted in picking Jimmy up with another soldier and took him to a helicopter for transport back to a field hospital. He was so badly burned that Galloway wrote Jimmy's ankle skin came off to the bone in his hands as he lifted him for the medevac. Jimmy died from his burns. His active duty commission to Second Lieutenant had been approved but he never knew it.
Jimmy had married his high school sweetheart, Trudie Olsen. They had one child together, a daughter, Nikki, who was born a few days before Jimmy died in Vietnam. He knew he had a baby girl but never got to see her.
Jimmy's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC on wall panel 03E 088.
Private First Class/Second Lieutenant Jimmy D. Nakayama, Sn# , earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star
- Vietnam Campaign Medal with '60 device
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Ribbon Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
- Vietnam Civil Actions Ribbon First Class Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm
**NOTE - The photo accompanying this bio shows Jimmy as an officer and not a PFC and this causes visitors and researchers some confusion. Jimmy held a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard, but he wished to serve in the Regular Army. He was unable to transfer his commission directly into the regular army at the time so he opted to serve as an enlisted man until his commission was awarded to him as a regular Army officer. The photo also shows the Army engineer castles on his lapel showing he was an engineer officer so it was only natural for him to be assigned to an engineer company as an enlisted man. Reportedly, but not verified as of this writing, his regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant had been approved but had not reached him yet in Vietnam. If this was true, it is a travesty that he was not afforded the Second Lieutenant rank on his gravestone.
Inscription
PFC CO C 8 ENGR BN 1 CAV DIV
VIETNAM PH
