Terry Teruo Kawamura
Terry Teruo Kawamura was born in Wahiawa, Hawaii, to a family of mixed Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian heritage. Following in the footsteps of his father, a career Army master sergeant, Kawamura enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He served with the 173rd Engineer Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was stationed in South Vietnam. On March 20, 1969, during a surprise enemy attack, Kawamura made the ultimate sacrifice by smothering an explosive device with his body to protect his fellow soldiers, thus saving their lives. For his extraordinary bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States, which was presented to his family by President Richard Nixon in 1971. Kawamura is commemorated at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and his legacy continues through the naming of the Kawamura Arts and Crafts Center in Virginia and the east gate of Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. His story reflects themes of heroism and selflessness, honoring those who have served and sacrificed in the line of duty.
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Subject Terms
Terry Teruo Kawamura
Soldier
- Pronunciation: teh-REW-oh kah-wah-MEW-rah
- Born: December 10, 1949
- Birthplace: Wahiawa, Hawaii
- Died: March 20, 1969
- Place of death: Camp Radcliff, Binh Dinh, Republic of Vietnam (now Socialist Republic of Vietnam)
While serving as a corporal in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, Kawamura sacrificed his own life to save fellow soldiers from an explosive device. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor issued by the United States, in February of 1971.
Area of achievement: Military
Early Life
Terry Teruo Kawamura was born in Wahiawa, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, to parents of mixed Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian ancestry. His father was a career noncommissioned officer in the United States Army and retired as a master sergeant after twenty-seven years of service. After the United States entered the Vietnam War, Kawamura followed in his father’s footsteps, enlisting in the US Army.
Life’s Work
Kawamura began his tour of duty in August of 1968. While serving with the 173rd Engineer Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, he was stationed at Camp Radcliff in Binh Dinh Province in South Vietnam. On March 20, 1969, an enemy team infiltrated a section of the living quarters, attacking the US soldiers with automatic weapons. Despite the danger, Kawamura attempted to locate his own weapon and return fire. An explosive charge blew a hole in the roof of the building, and another explosive entered the building through this opening. Upon realizing that the other soldiers were unaware of this immediate danger, Kawamura smothered the explosion with his own body, dying from the injuries received. His action saved the lives of several soldiers.
Having sacrificed himself to save other members of his company, Kawamura was posthumously awarded the United States military’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor. This medal, created in 1861, is awarded to soldiers who risk their lives with acts of extraordinary gallantry. President Richard M. Nixon presented the medal to Kawamura’s family at a ceremony in the East Ballroom of the White House on February 16, 1971. Kawamura was buried in the Mililani Memorial Park in Pearl City on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
Significance
In addition to receiving the Medal of Honor, Kawamura was honored for his service and sacrifice through his inclusion in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. His name is inscribed on panel 29W, line 90 of the memorial wall. The Kawamura Arts and Crafts Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was named in his honor, as was the east gate of the Wheeler Army Airfield near Mililani, Hawaii.
Bibliography
Bradley, James R. 173rd Airborne Brigade: Sky Soldiers. Paducah, KY: Turner, 2006. Print. A history of the brigade in which Kawamura served.
Committee on Veterans Affairs, US Senate. Vietnam Era Medal of Honor Recipients, 1964–1972. Washington, DC: GPO, 1973. Print. A compilation of the award commendations for all who earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.
Murphy, Edward F. Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes.Rev. ed. New York: Ballantine, 2005. Print. A collection of the citations from the Medal of Honor awards issued by the US government.