Miyamura HS to be dedicated to war hero

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hershey Miyamura laughs while posing next to a bronze statue of himself during an unveiling event in this May 16, 2008, file photo. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff writer

GALLUP — Area veterans and all residents of Gallup are invited to the dedication of Miyamura High School at 10 a.m. on April 23. The high school was named after Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura.

“Ninety percent of the old Gallup High School building is coming down, and we’re starting on the new building” Frank Chiapetti, principal of Miyamura High School, said. ”So it will be a groundbreaking.”

Miyamura’s parents came from Kyushu and settled in Gallup around 1906. He graduated from Gallup High School in June 1943 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1944.

He was first sent to Camp Blanding, Fla., and later sent overseas to join the 442 RCT in Naples, Italy. After five days, the war ended and he was assigned to occupation duties.

He returned to the U.S. with the 442nd RCT and marched in review for President Truman.

After his discharge, he enlisted in the Army Reserves in June 1946 and enrolled at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In June 1948, he was married. He was recalled to active duty in August 1950. After nine weeks of refresher training, he was flown to Japan, where he was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of 3rd Division. The division landed in North Korea and fought its way to Yalu River.

Edward Chow, Veterans Administration’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, made the following remarks concerning Hershey at the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May 1997: “On the night of 24 April (1951), Company H was occupying a defensive position when the enemy fanatically attacked, threatening to overrun the position. Cpl Miyamura, a machine-gun squad leader, aware of the imminent danger to his men, unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat killing approximately 10 of the enemy. Returning to his position, he administered first aid to the wounded and directed their evacuation.

“As another savage assault hit the line, he manned his machine-gun and delivered withering fire until his ammunition was expended. He ordered his squad to withdraw while he stayed behind to render the gun inoperative. He then bayoneted his way through infiltrated enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement and assisted in its operation.

When the intensity of the attack necessitated the withdrawal of the company, Cpl Miyamura ordered his men to fall back while he remained to cover their movement. He killed more that 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was depleted and he was severely wounded.

“He maintained his magnificent stand despite his painful wounds, continuing to repel the attack until his position was overrun. When last seen, he was fighting ferociously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers”

Hershey was captured and spent 27 months in a Chinese prisoner of war camp near the Yalu River. Upon his release, he was told that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor.

President Eisenhower personally presented the Medal of Honor to Miyamura on Oct. 27, 1953.

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest award for valor.