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Bronze Star Medal and Ribbon Jack Wakamatsu was one of the few Japanese Americans to be drafted before the war. On June 10, 1941 he was promoted to First Sergeant assigned to Company F, 53rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Ord, California. Jack joined Company F, of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team which was activated on February 1, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. With the 442nd, Jack fought in Italy and France, including the mission to rescue the “Lost Texas Battalion.” These medals honor First Sergeant Wakamatsu for his bravery and dedication. " The Bronze Star is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service. About 4,000 Bronze Stars and 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded to the soldiers of the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. An Oak Leaf Cluster is worn to denote award of a second and subsequent awards of the same decoration. Velvet, fabric, leather, wood, metal. Box: L 16, W 8, T 3.5 cm Manzanar National Historic Site, MANZ 5180 |