YANO, RODNEY J. T.*
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: Near Bien Hao, Republic of Vietnam, 1 January 1969.
Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Born: 13 December 1943, Kealakekua Kona, Hawaii.
Citation:
Sfc. Yano distinguished himself while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop. Sfc. Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle. From an exposed position in the face of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire he delivered suppressive fire upon the enemy forces and marked their positions with smoke and white phosphorous grenades, thus enabling his troop commander to direct accurate and effective artillery fire against the hostile emplacements. A grenade, exploding prematurely, covered him with burning phosphorous, and left him severely wounded. Flaming fragments within the helicopter caused supplies and ammunition to detonate. Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control. Although having the use of only 1 arm and being partially blinded by the initial explosion, Sfc. Yano completely disregarded his welfare and began hurling blazing ammunition from the helicopter. In so doing he inflicted additional wounds upon himself, yet he persisted until the danger was past. Sfc. Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew. By his conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life, in the highest traditions of the military service, Sfc. Yano has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Thanks to SSG David Bata for the above photographs
--- General / Personal ---
Last name: YANO
First name: RODNEY JAMES TAKASHI
Home of Record (official): KEALAKEKUA
State (official): HI
Date of Birth: Monday, December 13, 1943
Sex: Male
Race: Mongolian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SFC
Serial Number: 10116085
Component: Regular
Posthumous promotion as indicated
Pay grade: E6
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 67M40
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Tuesday, January 3, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, January 1, 1969
Age at time of loss: 25
Casualty type: (A2) Hostile, died of wounds
Reason: Other causes (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Bien Hoa
The Wall: Panel 35W - Row 018
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