Mr. Barney Hajiro was an honorable man who I met on a Memorial Day weekend many years ago.  He was anxious to talk to me about my uncle, Goro Matsumoto, who he said was his sergeant.  Mr. Hajiro told me he was next to my uncle when my uncle was killed on Oct 29, 1944 in the Battle to Rescue the Lost Battalion.  He said "no one wanted to die...not the officers, not the sergeants and not the privates".  They were pinned down by the Germans and my uncle was killed when he stood up and said, "Lets go!" (not Go For Broke and not Banzai).  This is when Mr. Hajiro charged up the hill shooting his BAR killing many Germans.  He said there was nothing else to do.  I asked him what kind of person was my uncle and he simply answered privates did not "hang out" with the sergeants.  

Mr. Hajiro said he was at the front as punishment from a court marshal due to an altercation between GIs and civilians.  When he tried to help, the GIs he was helping ran away when the MPs showed up.  His punishment was to go to I company and carry a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle). 

We talked about a lot of things...he said water was like gold and they took canteens of water off of fallen soldiers and that you always kept your helmet on because the artillery shrapnel could travel hundreds of yards and kill you.     

Mr. Hajiro gave me a photo of himself at my uncle's grave site.  I never really learned why he was so honoring to my uncle except that Mr. Hajiro was him self an honorable man...

Private Fushimi served with the 44nd Inf. in the vicinity of Bruyers and Biffontaine, France. On October 19, 22, and 29, 1944, Hajiro distinguished himself for extraordinary heroism. For Hajiro's quick action as a sentry and charging up "Suicide Hill" to destroy two machinegun emplacements, as well as capturing sixteen heavily armed prisoners, he received the Medal of Honor.

The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events.

BARNEY FUSHIMI HAJIRO

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