Okutsu, Yukio
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant,
U.S. Army, Company F, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Place and date: Mount
Belvedere, Italy, 7 April 1945. Born: 3 November 1921, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii.Entered
service at: Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii.
Citation:
Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action
on 7 April 1945, on Mount Belvedere, Italy. While his platoon was halted by the crossfire
of three machine guns, Technical Sergeant Okutsu boldly crawled to within 30 yards of the
nearest enemy emplacement through heavy fire. He destroyed the position with two
accurately placed hand grenades, killing three machine gunners. Crawling and dashing from
cover to cover, he threw another grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding two
enemy soldiers, and forcing two others to surrender. Seeing a third machine gun, which
obstructed his platoon’s advance, he moved forward through heavy small arms fire and
was stunned momentarily by rifle fire, which glanced off his helmet. Recovering, he
bravely charged several enemy riflemen with his submachine gun, forcing them to withdraw
from their positions. Then, rushing the machine gun nest, he captured the weapon and its
entire crew of four. By these single-handed actions he enabled his platoon to resume its
assault on a vital objective. The courageous performance of Technical Sergeant Okutsu
against formidable odds was an inspiration to all. Technical Sergeant Okutsu’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.
