Birth Name: George Sakato

Date of Birth: February 19, 1921

Date of Death: December 2, 2015

Cause of Death: Old Age, 94

Quote: “Go For Broke!” The motto of his segregated platoon.

George Sakato is a WWII Medal of Honor recipient. He and his platoon were fighting on Hill 617 in France. By himself, Sakato killed five men and captured four before taking control of his platoon after the squad leader was killed. After that the squad proceeded to halt an enemy attack and capture thirty-four more men. The platoon was expecting defeat, but Sakato ignored the enemy shots and ran right through the battle with his platoon leading them to victory. George Sakato was also a Japanese American. This made it impossible for Sakato to be accepted when being nominated for the Medal of Honor.         

Sakato  was born February 19th, 1921 in Colton, California. He graduated from Redlands High School and married to Bess Sakato.  Sakato enlisted when his family moved to Arizona to avoid internment. When Sakato joined the Army he intended to join the Air Force but was put into the Army instead.   Sakato won the Medal of Honor June 2000 after many years of rejection. He was recognized because of his immense  heroism.  George  Sakato died December 2nd, 2015 at the age of 94, surrounded by his family.

Why is George Sakato a dead person everyone should know about? Sakato overcame segregation and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Japanese Americans were segregated during WWII because of what was going on between Japan and the U.S. Because of this, George was put into an all-Japanese platoon. After the war he was declined the Medal of Honor from the 1940's until 2000. He should be a great influence on people because of his bravery. He can teach us all a lesson about overcoming racial barriers.