Mazie Hirono, a Democratic U.S. senator from Hawaii and a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is championing President Joe Biden’s recent decision to honor four U.S. army soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War—two of whom are from Hawaii—with the Medal of Honor.
Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro got the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an infantry squad leader near Phu Huu 2, Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam; a recent press release from Hirono’s office said. On Dec. 1, 1966, Kaneshiro led his team into the village of Phu Huu 2 while on a search and destroy mission and was attacked by North Vietnamese.
Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii also got the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as crew chief on a helicopter ambulance performing rescue missions in Laos and the Republic of Vietnam from Feb. 18-22, 1971.
“Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro and Specialist Five Fujii are heroes to this country, and I am proud to see two Hawaii veterans being recognized with the Medal of Honor for their brave and selfless actions during the Vietnam War," Hirono said in the release. "I’d like to extend my aloha and gratitude to them both for their service and sacrifice."
Hirono noted that she spoke personally Fujii.
“I had the privilege to speak with Mr. Fujii last week to congratulate him and personally thank him for his service to our country," she said in the release. "Servicemembers like Mr. Fujii and Mr. Kaneshiro risk their lives to protect our nation, and we have an obligation to support them following their service.”