Honored By His Peers
Other Japanese American veterans set to pay tribute to Miyamura

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

Gallup resident and Korean War hero, Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura, will be honored on Saturday in a special ceremony at the new McKinley County Courthouse Square. This photograph shows Miyamura receiving the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. [Courtesy Photo]

GALLUP — Gallup native Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura has been honored in numerous ceremonies around the country.

Now it's his hometown's turn to once again to pay tribute to Miyamura, the Gallup World War II and Korean War veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary valor during the Korean War.

About three dozen members of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans will be arriving in Gallup this weekend to join with the local community to honor Miyamura in a dedication ceremony at the new McKinley County Courthouse Square's Veterans' Park. Members of the JAKWV raised $30,000 toward the cost of installing a monument pillar dedicated to honoring Miyamura.

The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and the public is invited to attend.

In addition to helping raise funds for the Miyamura monument, the JAKWV has been working with local officials to plan the ceremony.

According to JAKWV President Victor Muraoka and past president Sam Shimoguchi, who were contacted by telephone on Thursday, the Rev. Mark Nakagawa of the Los Angeles Centenary Methodist Church will provide the ceremony's invocation and benediction. Muraoka will make introductory remarks, as will Dr. Roy Machida, a well-known Japanese American veteran of World War II, and several local Gallup and McKinley County officials.

The ceremony's keynote speaker will be Judge Vincent Okamoto, the most highly decorated Japanese American Vietnam veteran, said Muraoka. Miyamura will be invited to speak, and a local choir is slated to perform several patriotic songs.

Most of the JAKWV members will be visiting from California. Muraoka said one of his own aunts will be attending the ceremony as a way of paying tribute to both Miyamura and to her own brother, who was killed in Italy during World War II and who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

According to Muraoka and Shimoguchi, the JAKWV had no trouble raising the $30,000 for the Miyamura pillar. The organization has a membership of about 450 lifetime members who served in the American Armed Services between the years 1950 and 1955, said Muraoka. In addition, said Shimoguchi, the organization has a number of individuals who have been supportive of the JAKWV.

When the idea of raising money for the Miyamura tribute was raised, Shimoguchi said, the organization sent out 2,000 appeal letters. In a very short time, 550 responses came back with financial donations.

"We raised well over $30,000," said Shimoguchi. He believes the generous response is due to Miyamura's national reputation. In addition to being recognized for his courageous military record, he said, Miyamura is nationally recognized for being a role model.

"He's been a great representative for all the Japanese Americans," said Shimoguchi.

The fund-raiser appeal letter was so successful, the JAKWV exceeded their $30,000 goal. The extra money is being used to complete a monument in the Japanese American National War Memorial Court at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, Calif.