Nearly eight decades later, Hawaiian soldiers killed in World War II are honored in the Purple Heart ceremony

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Nearly eight decades later, a Purple Heart ceremony will be held Friday morning at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial to honor several brave Hawaiian soldiers who died near the end of World War II.

Posthumous Purple Heart Medals are awarded to the families of the veterans, all of whom were Nisei language specialists in military intelligence.

They were among 31 American soldiers who died when a transport plane crashed on Okinawa.

Some of the casualties were listed as “killed in action” and awarded the Purple Heart, but most casualties were listed as “died, not killed in action” and received no recognition.

Pacific Historic Parks says today it is correcting that.

Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, who recently retired as head of U.S. Cyber ​​Command and the National Security Agency, will present the medals.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m

Hawaii News Now will stream this ceremony on its digital platforms.

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