Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura oral history interview, part 4 of 5, July 24, 2004

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Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura recalls the battle at the Yellow River with the Chinese soldiers and North Korean soldiers. There were many casualties on both sides.

On April 24, the Chinese assaulted Hershey's squad, and he gave orders for his men to withdraw. Hershey covered for his men to escape. He was wounded and captured by the Chinese soldiers. At the POW camp, Hershey describes the living conditions he endured for 27 and a half months. He did not get proper nourishment, medical attention, and warm clothing. To avoid wood cutting detail, Hershey became the barber in camp.

In 1952 the peace talks started, and the names of the POWs were released. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War. The Medal of Honor changed many aspects of Hershey's life, and he spoke at many events. As a fellow American of Japanese ancestry, Japanese Americans are just as dedicated to the United States as any other American. Hershey felt the training and his fellow soldiers helped him, but there was a higher being that guided him through the war experience.

Hershey was not religious when his mother passed away. However, he returned to his faith and religion helped Hershey get through his war experience, POW life, and post-war.



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Date

Identifier

2004OH0471_04_Miyamura

Citation

Miyamura, Hiroshi "Hershey"; narrator, Yamazaki, Christine; interviewer, and Go For Broke National Education Center; publisher, “Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura oral history interview, part 4 of 5, July 24, 2004,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed December 21, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1058038.