Rodney James Takashi Yano
Rodney James Takashi Yano was a U.S. Army soldier born on December 13, 1943, in Kealakekua, Hawaii. He served as a Sergeant First Class during the Vietnam War, where he demonstrated extraordinary bravery. In a critical incident on January 1, 1969, while serving as the crew chief on a command helicopter, Yano faced a life-threatening situation when a white phosphorous grenade exploded prematurely, igniting ammunition on board. Despite sustaining severe injuries and being partially blinded, he heroically threw the burning ammunition from the helicopter, saving the lives of his crew members. Tragically, Yano succumbed to his wounds, but his selfless actions earned him the Medal of Honor, which was awarded posthumously by President Richard Nixon. Yano's legacy is commemorated in various ways, including the naming of the Sergeant Rodney J. Yano Main Library at Schofield Barracks and the USNS Yano, a ship named in his honor, as well as memorials acknowledging his bravery. He is buried at the West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery, where his contributions to military service and sacrifice are remembered.
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Subject Terms
Rodney James Takashi Yano
Soldier
- Born: December 13, 1943
- Place of Birth: Kealake Kua, Hawaii
- Died: January 1, 1969
- Place of Death: Near Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam
While serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War, Rodney James Takashi Yano saved members of his helicopter crew from serious injury or death when a white phosphorous grenade exploded prematurely and started to ignite ammunition on board the helicopter. Yano threw exploding ammunition out of the helicopter while suffering severe wounds himself. He died from these wounds, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Area of achievement: Military
Early Life
Rodney James Takashi Yano was born on December 13, 1943, in Kealake Kua, Hawaii, to Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Yano. His military record lists his religion as Roman Catholic. He joined the US Army in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Life’s Work
The US Army stationed Sergeant First Class Yano in Vietnam in January 1968. He served in the Air Cavalry Troop of the Eleventh Armored Cavalry regiment. On January 1, 1969, he was serving as the crew chief on the regiment’s command and control helicopter, from which the commander was directing the actions of the unit’s troops. While engaging enemy soldiers over heavy jungle terrain, Yano maintained suppressing fire and dropped smoke grenades. He also dropped white phosphorous grenades to mark the location of the enemy forces so that the troop commander could direct fire efficiently.
White phosphorous grenades burn at an extremely high temperature and are very hard to extinguish. On the helicopter, one of these grenades exploded prematurely, gravely wounding Yano. The resulting fire started to detonate the ammunition on the helicopter, endangering everyone on board. While covered with burning phosphorous, Yano began throwing ammunition out of the helicopter. He was partially blinded by the exploding grenade and could use only one arm, but he continued to throw out the burning ammunition supplies until the danger had passed. He died from the wounds he suffered during the incident. Yano was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl National Cemetery) in Honolulu, Hawaii. With assistance from the West Hawai'i Vietnam Veterans War Memorial Association, his brother, Glen, had his remains relocated to the West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery in North Kona in 2023. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC.
Significance
Because of his selfless actions in protecting the lives of his fellow soldiers despite being gravely wounded, Yano was awarded the United States’ highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. President Richard M. Nixon bestowed the posthumous award on Yano at a ceremony at the White House on April 7, 1970. His family accepted the medal on his behalf. The Sergeant Rodney J. Yano Main Library at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, is named in his honor. In January 1997, the Military Sealift Command named a converted merchant containership the USNSYano in his honor. His family attended the dedication service for this vessel, and his mother served as matron of honor for the ceremonies. He was also honored when a helicopter maintenance facility at Fort Rucker, Alabama, was named for him. In 2023, his name was inscribed on a Vietnam War memorial dedicated at West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery.
Bibliography
DeMasters, Tiffany. "Vietnam War Memorial Dedicated Today at West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery." Big Island Now, 29 Mar. 2023, bigislandnow.com/2023/03/29/vietnam-war-memorial-dedicated-today-at-west-hawaii-veterans-cemetery/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
Murphy, Edward F. Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes. Rev. ed. New York: Ballantine, 2005. Print.
"Sergeant First Class Rodney J.T. Yano." US Naval History and Heritage Command, 28 Feb. 2020, www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/rodney-yano.html. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans Affairs. Vietnam Era Medal of Honor Recipients, 1964–1972. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1973. Print.