[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19916]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 19916]]

  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO NAME THE UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE IN 
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, IN HONOR OF CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT 
                        PFC. WILLIAM K. NAKAMURA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2000

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce legislation to name 
the United States Courthouse in Seattle, Washington, as the ``William 
Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse'' in honor of Congressional 
Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. William K. Nakamura.
  William K. Nakamura was born and raised in an area of Seattle that 
used to be known as ``Japantown.'' In 1942, while attending the 
University of Washington, William K. Nakamura, his family, and 110,000 
other Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to federal internment 
camps. While living at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho, 
Nakamura and his brothers chose to prove their patriotism by enlisting 
in the United States Army. William K. Nakamura was assigned to the 
serve with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The courageous service of 
this unit during World War II made it one of the most decorated in the 
history of our nation's military.
  William K. Nakamura distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in 
action on July 4, 1944, near Castellina, Italy. As Pfc. Nakamura's 
platoon approached Castellina, it came under heavy enemy fire. Acting 
on his own initiative, Pfc. Nakamura crawled within 15 yards of the 
enemy's machine gun nest and used four hand grenades to neutralize the 
enemy fire which allowed his platoon to continue its advance. Pfc. 
Nakamura's company was later ordered to withdraw from the crest of a 
hill. Rather than retreat with his platoon, Pfc. Nakamura took a 
position to cover the platoon's withdrawal. As his platoon moved toward 
safety they suddenly became pinned down by machine gun fire. Pfc. 
Nakamura crawled toward the enemy's position and accurately fired upon 
the machine gunners, allowing his platoon time to withdraw to safety. 
It was during this heroic stand that Pfc. Nakamura lost his life to 
enemy sniper fire.
  Pfc. Nakamura's commanding officer nominated him for the Medal of 
Honor but the racial climate of the time prevented him, as well as 
other soldiers of color, from receiving the nation's highest honor. In 
the spring of this year, 56 years after he made the ultimate sacrifice 
for his country, William Kenzo Nakamura was awarded the Congressional 
Medal of Honor.
  Designating the United States Courthouse in Seattle in Pfc. 
Nakamura's name is a fitting way to acknowledge the memory of a true 
American hero, who for so many years was denied the honor he so justly 
deserved. Mr. Speaker, the legislation I introduce today is broadly 
supported by veterans' service organizations and elected officials in 
the Pacific Northwest. I urge speedy passage of this bill.

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