Recipient: Hiroshi (Hershey) Miyamura

Branch: U.S. Army

Combat: Korean War

In the tapestry of American history, certain individuals stand out not only for their valor on the battlefield but also for their unwavering commitment to community and country.

The story of Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura—from fearless acts in combat to a lifetime of humble service in Gallup, New Mexico—continues to inspire all who learn his name. Whether you’re visiting the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, or passing through Gallup, you’ll find reminders of his legacy everywhere, from Hiroshi Miyamura High School to the Miyamura Overpass.

What made Hiroshi Miyamura so extraordinary? The answer may surprise you—especially when you discover just how much you have in common.

Early Years: From Hometown to Front Lines

Born on October 6, 1925, to Japanese immigrants in Gallup, New Mexico, Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura grew up during a time of national suspicion and fear. Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, a presidential order called for the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans—an act rooted in unfounded fears of betrayal. While many communities complied, Gallup’s leaders made the courageous decision to ignore the internment mandate, allowing local Japanese-American families to remain in their homes and continue their lives with dignity.

Even so, the shadow of suspicion lingered. Like many of his peers, Miyamura felt a deep desire to prove his loyalty to the only country he had ever called home. In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the famed all-Nisei 442nd Infantry Regiment—a unit composed entirely of second-generation Japanese Americans. As his unit sailed toward Naples, preparing to join the fight in Europe, the war came to an end. Miyamura’s service would have to wait.

That opportunity came five years later. When war broke out on the Korean Peninsula in 1950, Miyamura was called to active duty, launching him into one of the most harrowing chapters of his life.

Outnumbered, outgunned, and out of bullets.

It was the evening of April 24, 1951. 

Corporal Hiroshi Miyamura and Company H were manning a defensive position near Taejon-ni, Korea, when they came under sudden and ferocious attack by Chinese forces. As a machine-gun squad leader, Miyamura immediately recognized the peril facing his men. Without hesitation, he left the safety of his shelter and charged the enemy with his bayonet, killing at least 10 soldiers in hand-to-hand combat before returning to provide medical aid to the wounded.

Moments later, a second wave of bullets rained down. Miyamura leapt to his machine gun and held the line, firing until he ran out of ammunition. He ordered his squad to fall back while he remained behind—disabling the gun to keep it from enemy hands.

Instead of rejoining his men in the retreat, Miyamura took a step in the opposite direction.

Bayonetting his way through enemy lines, he reached a second machine gun post. There, he resumed fire and continued to cover his men’s retreat, killing more than 50 enemy soldiers before he was critically wounded and finally overtaken.

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

28 Months of Paralyzing Uncertainty 

Captured by the Chinese, Miyamura awoke the next day as a prisoner of war (POW).

For more than two years, he lived in a prison camp. He deeply feared that he had failed his men and would face charges for losing so many men during that final battle.

“I didn’t want to think about what was happening,” Miyamura told The New Mexican in an interview in 2011. “I wanted to concentrate on raising a family once I got home. I think that’s what kept me going.”

Stateside, Miyamura’s wife, Tsuruko “Terry” Miyamura, received three letters marked “return to writer” and “verified missing in action.” Decades later, those unopened letters are on display for guest viewing at the National Medal of Honor Museum. 

 

The exhibit includes an opened letter from Miyamura to his young bride. Capturing a glimpse of his compassion and humble optimism, it reads in part, “Please take care of yourself, it won’t be much longer. If the people back home want peace, there is nothing that can prevent it.”

After the U.S. Government marked Miyamura as “Missing in Action,” soldiers from Company H shared their experiences with authorities. Their testimonies to Miyamura’s selfless, heroic acts of bravery during the ferocious firefight were enough to secretly award him the Medal of Honor eight months later.

Fearful that Miyamura’s captors would kill him if they knew how many Chinese soldiers he had killed during the fight, U.S. officials remained silent about his Recipient status.

The Release—and the Relief

Almost one month after the end of the Korean War, Miyamura and 19 other POWs were released on August 23, 1953. 

As he prepared to meet the U.S. commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Freedom Village in Panmunjom, South Korea, Miyamura expected to be court-martialed for failing to protect his men. 

It was then he learned, to his astonishment, that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor. 


“I didn’t want to see my men killed, and I just covered the withdrawal. I didn’t think I was doing anything heroic. I just thought I was doing my job,” he humbly responded.

Visitors can view the Medal—along with its official certificate—at the National Medal of Honor Museum.

 

“Now of course, it is obvious that the future belongs to youth. In very special measure it belongs to these young men, because they have done so much. They must do more. Any man who wins the Nation’s highest decoration is marked for leadership. And he must exert it.”

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Remarks at the Presentation of Miyamura’s Medal of Honor

A Humble Hero Comes Home

Following the war, Hiroshi Miyamura returned to his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico, where he and his wife Terry raised three children. Quiet by nature, he opened a gas station and repair shop called Humble Oil and spent much of his spare time giving back to the local community.

Receiving the Medal of Honor shifted his perspective. Though he didn’t seek attention, Miyamura understood the responsibility that came with wearing the nation’s highest military award.

“I’ve always been a person who never said too much,” Miyamura once said. “But it made me aware that I was wearing our nation’s highest honor and I had to act differently, especially among the younger people.”

In 2014, the FBI’s Albuquerque division honored him with the Director’s Community Leadership Award for his years of passionate service. And the town of Gallup paid tribute by naming both a high school and a highway overpass after him—lasting symbols of his sacrifice and service.

 

A Legacy That Lives On

Despite his recognition, Miyamura rarely spoke about his time in Korea. 

In a recent interview with the Albuquerque Journal, Pat Miyamura said it wasn’t until years later—through reunions and visit with fellow veterans—that he began to learn the full scope of his father’s service.

“To see and hear their stories, you’re in awe of them,” Pat Miyamura said in the article. “To know what these recipients have gone through to deserve their medals is kind of sobering and emotional.”

Miyamura often lent his voice to public events and was present at the Medal of Honor Museum’s groundbreaking in Arlington, Texas, on March 25, 2022. Just months later, on November 29, 2022, he passed away at the age of 97. He was buried with full military honors at Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.

His extraordinary acts of bravery and unwavering legacy of citizenship are a featured exhibit at the Medal of Honor Museum. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Get inspired by Miyamura’s true story.

Visit the More Than a Medal: Miyamura Overpass exhibit to see personal mementos—including his Medal of Honor—and learn why Hershey Miyamura’s courage continues to inspire generations. Purchase tickets here.