[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 78 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      RECOGNIZING SGT SHINYEI ``ROCKY'' MATAYOSHI ON EARNING THE 
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM DURING ACTION IN 
                              WORLD WAR II

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on June 7th, 2011, former Technical Sergeant 
Shinyei Rocky Matayoshi will go the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon to 
be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism 
during World War II as a member of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat 
Team of the United States Army. This marks the 29th Distinguished 
Service Cross awarded to the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental 
Combat Team.
  Rocky was born in 1924 in the sugar plantation town of Koloa on the 
island of Kauai. He was a senior at Kauai High School when Japan 
attacked Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the attack, Rocky's father was 
arrested and sent to a detention center for Japanese Americans in Santa 
Fe, New Mexico. Rocky left school to work for the sugar plantation to 
help with the war effort and support his family.
  When the call for volunteers for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was 
announced in February 1942, Rocky was one of three in his community to 
volunteer. He hoped that by volunteering and demonstrating his loyalty, 
his father would be allowed to come home to care for his five other 
children. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
  Rocky was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion of the 442nd. He began 
as a private and through diligence and hard work was promoted to 
Technical Sergeant of the 3rd Platoon. Following his training at Camp 
Shelby, Mississippi, Rocky went with his unit to Italy in June 1944. He 
participated in every campaign in Italy and France and reported for 
roll call every day except for two days when he was confined to the 
field hospital for illness.
  Rocky's combat philosophy was to serve as his own scout--and to take 
the highest risk assignments for himself. He led by example, displaying 
courage and leadership, which his men accepted and respected.
  I quote from the citation awarding the Distinguished Service Cross to 
Technical Sergeant Shinyei ``Rocky'' Matayoshi:

       For extraordinary heroism in action:
       Technical Sergeant Shinyei Matayoshi distinguished himself 
     by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the 
     call of duty while serving as a Platoon Sergeant in Company 
     G, 2d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team during combat 
     operations against an armed enemy on Mount Belvedere, Italy. 
     On 7 April 1945, Technical Sergeant Matayoshi ordered his 
     Platoon to advance up the steep slopes of Mount Belvedere to 
     seize the heavily fortified forest areas that were under 
     enemy control. As the Platoon approached the elevated ridge 
     line, Technical Sergeant Matayoshi's Platoon was attacked by 
     intense machine gun fire from at least five enemy machine gun 
     nests from frontal, left and right flanks. Technical Sergeant 
     Matayoshi did not waiver despite enduring an overabundance of 
     devastating automatic and small arms fire while attacking the 
     first machine gun nest. While suppressing the enemy with his 
     Thompson machine gun and throwing hand grenades, he killed 
     four enemy soldiers and took one prisoner. Despite the 
     intensive barrage of enemy firepower, directed against him, 
     Technical Sergeant Matayoshi moved forward leading the direct 
     assault destroying three other machine gun nests, killing or 
     wounding approximately fifteen enemy soldiers, some at as 
     close as a five meter range. Technical Sergeant Matayoshi 
     secured the key terrain, which paved the way for the 
     Battalion's pursuit of the retreating enemy soldiers. 
     Technical Sergeant Matayoshi's selfless leadership, 
     courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to duty are in 
     keeping with the finest traditions of military service and 
     reflect great credit upon himself, Company G, 2d Battalion, 
     442d Regimental Combat Team, and the Army of the United 
     States.

  When I read this, I am struck by the courage and willingness to 
sacrifice shown by Sgt. Matayoshi and all the other young Japanese 
American men under his command. At age 21, with his father held in a 
detention camp for the crime of being of Japanese ancestry, Rocky 
willingly offered his life in defense of liberty and, most important, 
of the United States. These young men were patriots in the true sense 
of the word.
  In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross and the Congressional 
Gold Medal recently bestowed on all members of the 442nd and 100th 
Battalion, Rocky received the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the 
Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious 
Service, the Purple Heart Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, a 
Meritorious Unit Citation, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-
Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the European-
African Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars and one Arrowhead, 
the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
  Rocky married Elsie Goya of Honolulu, and they have four children. 
After attending Wilson Community College and the Illinois Institute of 
Technology, Rocky worked in an auto body shop and part-time at a gas 
station. His children all earned full scholarships to fund their 
undergraduate degrees. Two of his children earned doctorates--one in 
physiology and the other in biophysics--and another earned a masters 
degree in biology, all on fellowships.
  Congratulations, Rocky, on receiving this overdue recognition. You 
and your brothers in arms taught America a vital lesson that is still 
valid today. Being an American is not a matter of one's ethnic heritage 
or race--it is defined by patriotism and a willingness to sacrifice for 
one's country. Anyone who questions the patriotism of Americans of 
different ethnic backgrounds must confront the example of the Japanese 
American heroes of World War II.
  Thank you for your selfless service to our nation.

                          ____________________