Vincent Okamoto
Encyclopedia
Vincent Okamoto is a former U.S. Army officer. He is the most highly decorated Japanese American to survive the Vietnam War
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in Arizona. He is the youngest of the ten children Henry and Yone Okamoto.
Following the family's release they moved to South Chicago, where his parents ran a small grocery store. The family later moved to Gardena, California, when he was twelve years old. He attended Gardena High School, where he served as senior class president. He was a three year letter man in track and football and belonged to the Men's Honor Society.
After receiving Ranger training he was given orders to report to Viet Nam. In 1968, Lieutenant Okamoto was assigned as the intelligence-liaison officer for 2 months for the Phoenix Program
while attached to Company B of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division.
Second Lieutenant Okamoto distinguished himself on 24 August 1968 while serving as a platoon leader with an infantry unit near Dau Tieng
. A ground attack was launched against his battalion’s night location by three reinforced North Vietnamese and Viet Cong companies. The initial assault destroyed a strategic section of the perimeter. Under heavy automatic weapons, small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Lieutenant Okamoto moved five of his men to restore this vital position.
Realizing the need for supporting fire, he ran to a partially destroyed armored personnel carrier and manned its machine gun. After the weapon malfunctioned, he dashed through the fusillade of enemy fire to a second and then a third carrier to place suppressing fire on the aggressors.
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On 15 April 2002, Governor Gray Davis
appointed civil attorney Vincent H. Okamoto to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench. He was honored as the 2006 UCLA Veteran of the Year. Judge Okamoto has continued to serve the community on various Veterans boards, in Gardena city government.
He was inducted Into Ranger Hall of Fame on September 1, 2007. He is the fourth Japanese American (and first since World War II) to receive the honor.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
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Biography
Okamoto was born to an American family of Japanese origin that was interned during the Second World War at the Poston relocation campPoston War Relocation Center
The Poston War Relocation Center, located in Yuma County of southwestern Arizona, was the largest of the ten American internment camps operated by the War Relocation Authority during World War II....
in Arizona. He is the youngest of the ten children Henry and Yone Okamoto.
Following the family's release they moved to South Chicago, where his parents ran a small grocery store. The family later moved to Gardena, California, when he was twelve years old. He attended Gardena High School, where he served as senior class president. He was a three year letter man in track and football and belonged to the Men's Honor Society.
US Army and career in Vietnam
Okamoto attended El Camino College from 1962 to 1965. From 1965 to 1967 he attended U.S.C. receiving a BA in International Relations in 1967. He enrolled in the ROTC and was the first non-UCLA student to be commissioned through the UCLA ROTC program. He earned his commission as a Army 2nd Lieutenant.After receiving Ranger training he was given orders to report to Viet Nam. In 1968, Lieutenant Okamoto was assigned as the intelligence-liaison officer for 2 months for the Phoenix Program
Phoenix Program
The Phoenix Program |phoenix]]) was a controversial counterinsurgency program designed, coordinated, and executed by the United States Central Intelligence Agency , United States special operations forces, and the Republic of Vietnam's security apparatus during the Vietnam War that operated...
while attached to Company B of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division.
Second Lieutenant Okamoto distinguished himself on 24 August 1968 while serving as a platoon leader with an infantry unit near Dau Tieng
Dau Tieng
Dau Tieng , is a district of Binh Duong Province in the Southeast region of Vietnam.As of 2003 the district had a population of 92,592. The district covers an area of 720 km². The district capital lies at Dầu Tiếng.-References:...
. A ground attack was launched against his battalion’s night location by three reinforced North Vietnamese and Viet Cong companies. The initial assault destroyed a strategic section of the perimeter. Under heavy automatic weapons, small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Lieutenant Okamoto moved five of his men to restore this vital position.
Realizing the need for supporting fire, he ran to a partially destroyed armored personnel carrier and manned its machine gun. After the weapon malfunctioned, he dashed through the fusillade of enemy fire to a second and then a third carrier to place suppressing fire on the aggressors.
Personal
After returning to civilian life, he enrolled in college and attained his law degree at USC. He also married his sweetheart, Mitzi Nishiyama on December 8, 1967. He was also instrumental in establishing the Japanese American Vietnam War Veterans Memorial at the National Japanese American Veterans Memorial CourtNational Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court
The National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court is a national memorial court in Los Angeles, California, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of Japanese American veterans during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
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Legal
Okamoto spent five years as a prosecutor and eight years practicing law privately.On 15 April 2002, Governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
appointed civil attorney Vincent H. Okamoto to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench. He was honored as the 2006 UCLA Veteran of the Year. Judge Okamoto has continued to serve the community on various Veterans boards, in Gardena city government.
Writing
Vincent Okamoto is a novelist as well, having penned Wolfhound Samurai: A Novel of the Vietnam War.Honors
Okamoto is the highest-decorated Japanese-American veteran of the Vietnam War. His medals include- Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with three oak leaf clusters - Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
- Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
- Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
- Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
He was inducted Into Ranger Hall of Fame on September 1, 2007. He is the fourth Japanese American (and first since World War II) to receive the honor.