Shizuto Kamikawa
Private First Class
442nd Regimental Combat Team
3rd Battalion, Headquarters Company
Shizuto Kamikawa was born on January 24, 1922, in Honokaa, Hawaii Island, Territory of Hawaii. He was the son of Mataichi and Tsuchiyo (Sugimoto) Kamikawa. He was educated at Kauluwela School, Central Intermediate School, Farrington High School, and Honolulu Vocational School on Oahu. Before entering the service, he was a carpenter for the Contractors of Pacific Naval Air Bases on Oahu.
Shizuto registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, with Local Board No. 6, Kawananakoa School, Honolulu. He was 5’9½” tall and weighed 145 pounds. He had attended one year of college.
On March 25, 1943, Shizuto Kamikawa was inducted into the Army at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. He trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, where he was assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Headquarters Company. He served in the continental United States and Italy.
On September 1, 1944, Private First Class Shizuto Kamikawa was killed in action near Florence, Italy, during the Rome-Arno Campaign. He was initially interred in a U.S. Military Cemetery in Vada, Italy.
For his military service, Pfc Shizuto Kamikawa was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze star, World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Shizuto was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on October 5, 2010, along with the other veterans of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team. This is the highest Congressional Civilian Medal.
In August 1949, Shizuto Kamikawa’s remains were returned home from Italy and he was re-interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii, Section D, Site 461.
His brother, Francis Takumi Kamikawa served in the 100th Infantry Battalion.
Researched and written by the Sons & Daughters of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in 2021.