Located in the center Freedom Square also known as “Curley” Nakae Square located in the main shopping area of the installation.

A brass plague attached to a large white stone.

PVT Masato “Curley” Nakae served with the 100^th Infantry Battalion, 442^nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT)- an all Japanese-American unit.  He earned the Medal of Action in World War 2 while fighting near Camp Darby. The 100^th Battalion was attached to the 34^th Infantry Division at this time during the war.

An article from the May 19, 2012 Hawaii Reporter offers some insight into this hero:

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. The award is generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress

What’s the connection between  the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy?  Less than ten minutes away from the Leaning Tower is a memorial to honor a Medal of Honor  recipient.

The monument was erected in June 2006 in Camp Darby, a U.S. military base located near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to the memory of PFC {PVT} Nakae, Company A, 100^th Battalion, 442^nd Regimental Combat Team for his heroic actions in combat on August 19, 1944 against the German forces in the Pisa area.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism.  In 2000 the DSC was reviewed by a Presidential panel and upgraded to the Medal of Honor. 

Nakae was one of 22 Americans of Japanese descent who received the Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000 (about two years after his death) by President Bill Clinton. Originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, his award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor after Congress directed the Secretary of the Army to review all awards of the DSC to Americans of Japanese and Pacific Islands descent to determine if racial bias had influenced the awards process.

Masato Nakae was born in Ha‘ena, Hawaii. Later, the family moved to Rice Camp in Lihu‘e, Hawaii. According to his brother, Kiyoshi Nakae of Hanama‘ulu, there were three boys and one girl in the family.  Masato Nakae was the eldest, and due to the death of their father he could not continue his education and was required to work to supplement the family’s income. 

He entered military service in early 1942 and joined the 100^th Infantry Battalion when it was activated in June 1942. The 100^th Battalion was the first all Japanese American combat unit formed.  It landed at Salerno, Italy on September 22, 1943 and engaged in major battles, including Alife, Cassino and Anzio, prior to the arrival of the 442^ndRCT.  When it was integrated into the 442^nd RCT in June  1944 at Civitavecchia, Italy, it retained its original unit designation, 100^th Infantry Battalion, instead of being redesignated as the 1^st Battalion.  The 100^th distinguished itself in eight campaigns in Italy and France.  

All three brothers eventually served in the U.S. Army, but only Masato Nakae served with the 100th/442nd during World War II. They served during a period when Japanese-Americans were having difficulties receiving the trust of the nation due to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Despite the distrust obviously displayed to these loyal Americans, they faithfully served without one shred of evidence of disloyalty. The 100th/442nd was an all-Japanese Nisei (first generation of Japanese born in the United States) unit and their actions during the war reflected that they were undoubtedly loyal citizens of this country. There was never a case of desertion or absence without leave.

Masato was discharged on November 1945. He eventually met and married Haruko Nishikawa of Kane‘ohe, which was the town on the Hawaiian island of Oahu where they permanently decided to relocate and call home. They had one daughter, Anne (Nakae) Kuroda.

According to his son-in-law, Randall Kuroda, Masato Nakae “refused to discuss his combat experiences with anyone.”

Congressional Medal of Honor

NAKAE, MASATO

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry Regiment

Place and date: Near Pisa, Italy, 19 August 1944

Citation: Private Masato Nakae distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 19 August 1944, near Pisa, Italy. When his submachine gun was damaged by a shell fragment during a fierce attack by a superior enemy force, Private Nakae quickly picked up his wounded comrade’s M-1 rifle and fired rifle grenades at the steadily advancing enemy. As the hostile force continued to close in on his position, Private Nakae threw six grenades and forced them to withdraw. During a concentrated enemy mortar barrage that preceded the next assault by the enemy force, a mortar shell fragment seriously wounded Private Nakae. Despite his injury, he refused to surrender his position and continued firing at the advancing enemy. By inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy force, he finally succeeded in breaking up the attack and caused the enemy to withdraw. Private Nakae’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

/s/ William Clinton President

PFC Masato Nakae is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu, Hawaii,  Section U, grave 1446.

About The 442^nd Combat Regimental Team from the National Park website:

The 442^nd Infantry Regiment - The Most Decorated Unit

The 442nd Regiment of Japanese-Americans would go on to be one the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare.   The 4,000 men who initially made up the unit in April 1943 had to be replaced nearly 2.5 times. In total, about 14,000 men served, earning 9,486 Purple Hearts.. The unit was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations (5 earned in one month).¹ Twenty-one of its members were awarded Medals of Honor. Its motto was "Go for Broke".  They proved their loyalty to the United States of American in its greatest time of need like no other.

"Americanism is not and has never been a matter of race or color. 
Americanism is a matter of mind and heart."

- FDR 

SEE THIS WEBSITE FOR OTHER SITES RELATED TO THE 100^TH BATTALION AND 442^ND COMBAT REGIMENTAL TEAM

ITALY: San Angelo Theodice; Filignano; Pietrasanta

FRANCE:  Biffontaine; Biffontaine Town Hall; Laval Woods; Bruyeres

The text is written in English and reads:

th Battalion>

PVT MASATO “CURLY” NAKAE

FREEDOM SQUARE

Medal of Honor recipient, PVT Masato “Curley” Nakae

100^th Infantry Battalion, was awarded the

Medal of Honor for his heroism on 19 August 1944

Near Pisa, Italy. PVT Nakae was seriously wounded by 

shrapnel during an enemy mortar barrage. Despite his

Injuries and damage to his machine gun.  PVT Nakae

Refused to surrender his position.  He quickly

Picked up a wounded comrade’s M-1 Rifle and continued

Firing the rifle and throwing grenades at the steadily

Advancing enemy forces.  He inflicted heavy casualties

In the enemy, breaking up the attack and causing 

their withdrawal.

HONOR past sacrifices to build successful future for FREEDOM