Francis Brown Wai | |
|---|---|
 Captain Francis B. Wai, U.S. Army | |
| Born | (1917-04-14)April 14, 1917 |
| Died | October 20, 1944(1944-10-20) (aged 27) Leyte, Philippines |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1940–1944 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 34th Infantry Regiment,24th Infantry Division |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor[n 1] Purple Heart |
Francis Brown Wai (April 14, 1917 – October 20, 1944) was aUnited States Armycaptain who was killed in action during the U.S. amphibious assault andliberation of the Philippine Islands fromJapan in 1944, duringWorld War II. He was awarded theMedal of Honor posthumously for extraordinary heroism in action atLeyte.[2]
As a youngster, Wai liked to surf and he played several sports in high school and college. He graduated from college with a degree in finance. Although he initially planned to work with his father, he joined theHawaii National Guard in 1940, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1941.
Wai was initially awarded theDistinguished Service Cross (DSC), the United States' second highest decoration forvalor in combat. After an extensive review of military awards in 2000, his DSC was upgraded to the Medal of Honor (MOH).[3][4]Wai is the onlyChinese American soldier to ever receive the Medal of Honor.[5][6]
Wai was the child of Kim Wai, a Chinese immigrant to Hawaii, and Rosina Lambert Wai, aNative Hawaiian.[6] Growing up, he often surfed withDuke Kahanamoku,[6] regarded as the father ofsurfing, andBuster Crabbe[citation needed], who later became an actor. He graduated from thePunahou School, a prestigiouscollege preparatory school inHonolulu, where in 1935 he earned athletic letters in track, football, and baseball. He then attendedSacramento Junior College for two years before transferring in 1937 to theUniversity of California, Los Angeles.[7] At UCLA, he was a four-sport athlete, including playing for theBruins football team alongside his brothers Robert and Conkling Wai.[8][7]
Francis Wai graduated from UCLA on January 31, 1940,[7] with a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance.[9] He intended to work alongside his father in real estate and banking but instead joined the military upon America's entry into World War II.[9]
Wai enlisted in theHawaii National Guard in October 1940[7] and was called into active duty before the United States' entrance into World War II. After completingOfficer Candidate School atFort Benning, Georgia, he received a commission as a second lieutenant on September 27, 1941.[7][6][10] His commission was rare at a time when few Asian Americans were allowed to serve in combat leadership roles.[9][10] He was eventually assigned as an intelligence officer with Headquarters Company,[6]34th Infantry Regiment,24th Infantry Division with the rank of captain.[9] The 24th Division, based atSchofield Barracks, Oahu, was among the first American units to be involved in thePacific Theater, exchanging fire with Japanese aircraft during the December 7, 1941attack on Pearl Harbor.[9]
In May 1943, Captain Wai deployed to Australia with the 24th Infantry Division and by September 19, 1943, the unit was at Camp Caves, nearRockhampton, on the eastern coast of Australia. Wai and the rest of the unit began intensive combat training.[11] With training completed, the division moved toGoodenough Island on January 31, 1944, to prepare forOperation Reckless, the amphibious invasion ofHollandia,Netherlands New Guinea (nowJayapura, in thePapua province ofIndonesia).[12]
The 24th Division landed atTanahmerah Bay on April 22, 1944 and seized theHollandia Airdrome despite torrential rain and marshy terrain.[11] Shortly after the Hollandia landing, the division's 34th Infantry Regiment moved toBiak to reinforce the41st Infantry Division. Wai's regiment captured the Sorido and Borokoe airdromes before returning to the division on Hollandia in July.[11] In two months, the 34th Infantry and Wai had crossed New Guinea and recaptured three airdromes from the Japanese.[13]
After occupying the Hollandia area, Wai's Division was assigned toX Corps of theSixth United States Army in preparation for the invasion of thePhilippines and embarked on October 13, 1944. The invasion began on October 17. On October 20, the 24th Infantry Division was paired with the1st Cavalry Division within X Corps, and the two divisions made an assault landing atLeyte.[14] The Leyte operation was to be the crucial battle of the war in the Pacific. On its outcome would depend the fate of the Philippines and the future course of the war against Japan.
When the 34th Infantry landed at Red Beach, the Japanese forces stationed on the island concentrated their fire on the waves of incoming troops from gun positions located in a palm grove bounded by submerged rice paddies. Wai arrived on the beach in the fifth wave and found one of the rifle company commanders in the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry had been killed and most members of the battalion were leaderless, disorganized, and pinned down on the open beach.[6] Assuming command, and using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle),[6] he moved through the rice paddies, without cover. His demeanor and example inspired the other men to follow him. With deliberate disregard for his own personal safety, he advanced without cover to draw Japanese machine gun and rifle fire, thus exposing the locations of the entrenched Japanese forces. Systematically, the Japanese positions were assaulted and overcome. Wai was killed leading an assault against the last Japanese pillbox in the area.[15][6]
Wai's remains were permanently interred at theNational Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (better known as the "Punchbowl") and a military funeral was conducted for him on September 8, 1949 in Honolulu, Hawaii.[16]
In 1944, ColonelAubrey Newman, the 34th Infantry commander, recommended Wai for a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions on Leyte.[6] Wai was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; Newman was also awarded a DSC for his actions on October 20, 1944.[17]
In 1996, amid allegations of prejudicial treatment of Asian Americans in uniform in World War II,[6] Congress directedLouis Caldera, thenSecretary of the Army, to conduct a full review of military records.[3][4] The review concluded that 22 Asian Americans, including Wai, did not receive full consideration for the Medal of Honor. In 2000, Wai's Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor by the US Army.[18] On June 21, 2000, PresidentBill Clinton during a ceremony at theWhite House, presented the Medal of Honor to each of the 22 Asian Americans whose Distinguished Service Crosses were upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[15][19] President Clinton presented Wai's MOH to his brother, Robert Wai Sr., during the ceremony.[20]
Of those whose military decorations for valor were upgraded, Wai was one of only two who did not belong to the predominantlyJapanese American100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team; the other beingRudolph B. Davila of the7th Infantry Regiment.[21]
Captain Wai's military decorations and awards:
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| Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[22] |
Rank: Captain
Conflict/era: World War II
Unit/Command: Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment
Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Action Date: October 20, 1944
Medal of Honor Action Place: Red Beach, Leyte, Philippine Islands[20]
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Francis B. Wai distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action, on 20 October 1944, in Leyte, Philippine Islands. Captain Wai landed at Red Beach, Leyte, in the face of accurate, concentrated enemy fire from gun positions advantageously located in a palm grove bounded by submerged rice paddies. Finding the first four waves of American soldiers leaderless, disorganized, and pinned down on the open beach, he immediately assumed command. Issuing clear and concise orders, and disregarding heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire, he began to move inland through the rice paddies without cover. The men, inspired by his cool demeanor and heroic example, rose from their positions and followed him. During the advance, Captain Wai repeatedly determined the locations of enemy strong points by deliberately exposing himself to draw their fire. In leading an assault upon the last remaining Japanese pillbox in the area, he was killed by its occupants. Captain Wai's courageous, aggressive leadership inspired the men, even after his death, to advance and destroy the enemy. His intrepid and determined efforts were largely responsible for the rapidity with which the initial beachhead was secured. Captain Wai's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.[20][15][23]
Wai was inducted into theUCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on October 11, 2014.
