| Joe Maori Nishimoto | |
| Birth Date: | 21 February 1919 |
| Birth Place: | Fresno, California |
| Placeofburial: | Washington Colony Cemetery, Fresno, California |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1943 - 1944 |
| Rank: | Private First Class |
| Unit: | 442nd Regimental Combat Team |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor |
Private First Class Joe Maori Nishimoto (Japanese: 西本 真織, February 21, 1919 - November 15, 1944) was a United States Army soldier. He is best known for receiving the Medal of Honor because of his actions in World War II.[1]
Nishimoto was born in California to Japanese immigrant parents. He was a Nisei, which means that he was a second generation Japanese-American.
He was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas, following the signing of Executive Order 9066.[2]
Nishimoto joined the US Army in October 1943.[3]
Nishimoto volunteered to be part of the all-Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion.[4] This army unit was mostly made up of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland.[5]
For his actions in November 1944, Nishimoto was awarded the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross.[6] He was killed in action on November 15, 1944.
Nishimoto's Medal of Honor recognized his conduct in frontline fighting in France in 1944.[1]
Private First Class Nishimoto's official Medal of Honor citation reads: