James Mukoyama
{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = James Hidefumi Mukoyama
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| image = James Mukoyama.jpg
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| caption = Major General James Mukoyama
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|08|03}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = United States Army
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| rank = Major general
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| battles = Vietnam War
Gulf War
| awards = Silver Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
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James Hidefumi Mukoyama Jr.https://www.militaryoutreachusa.org/leadership/ ({{langx|ja|向山 英文}},{{cite web | url=https://hojishinbun.hoover.org/?a=d&d=csp19461114-01.1.4&srpos=15&e=-------ja-10--11--txt-%e5%90%91%e5%b1%b1%e8%8b%b1%e6%96%87------ | title=Shikago Shinpō, 1946.11.14 — 邦字新聞デジタル・コレクション }} born August 3, 1944) was (at the time) the youngest American to command a United States Army division. He served over thirty years on active and reserve duty in the Army, including service in Korea and Vietnam.
Biography
James Mukoyama was born on August 3, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a Japanese immigrant and his mother was the child of immigrant parents from Japan. Mukoyama's mother's family was interned at the American internment camp Manzanar.{{cite web |title=Jocko Podcast 124 w/ General James "Mook" Mukoyama |url=https://youtube.com/pFn-A2_Mdq4?t=708 |website=Youtube |accessdate=4 January 2020}}
Mukoyama first became involved with the military when he joined the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) program Carl Schurz High School.{{cite web|title=James H. Mukoyama, Major General|url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/holt-oral-history-program/james-h-mukoyama-major-general/|website=Pritzker Military Museum & Library}} He later attended the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English.{{cite web|title=Glenview Man Selected as Illinois Veteran of the Month|url=http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?RecNum=11235&SubjectID=2|website=Illinois Government News Network|accessdate=17 November 2014}} While pursuing his bachelor's degree, he continued his involvement with ROTC as well as Pershing Rifles and the Drill Team. He was commissioned as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant and earned a master's degree in Teaching of Social Studies. He then attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course, and earned his Jump Wings.
Mukoyama volunteered to fight in the Vietnam War, but was sent to Korea instead. After serving in Korea, he was sent to Vietnam in 1969. In 1986, he became the youngest general in the army at that time. Soon after he was promoted to major general, commanding the 70th Training Division during Desert Storm.{{cite web|last1=Hansley|first1=Chris|last2=Pylinski|first2=Aaron|title=Major General James H. Mukoyama Oral History Interview|url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/files/6413/8445/9384/MukoyamaTranscript_.pdf|website=Pritzker Military Museum & Library|accessdate=17 November 2014}}
In 1995, Mukoyama retired from the military. His accomplishments during his retirement include helping to form the Military Outreach of Greater Chicago, serving as Chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, and serving as chair for a committee with the National Veterans' Network to select the design for the Congressional Gold Medal award authorized by the Congressional Gold Medal for Japanese American Veterans Act.
Honors and awards
- Army Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star{{cite web|title=James (Jim) Hidefumi Mukoyama, Jr.|url=http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/resources/military/317/|website=Discover Nikkei|accessdate=17 November 2014}}
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star{{cite web|title=James H Mukoyama - Vietnam War Awards and Decorations File|url=http://www.vietnamwarhonors.com/index.php?page=directory&rec=41366|website=VietnamWarHonors.com|accessdate=17 November 2014}}
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal
- Army Commendation Medal
- Army Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
- Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Aircrewman Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge
- Illinois Veteran of the Month, May 2013{{cite web|title=Glenview Man Selected as Illinois Veteran of the Month|url=http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?RecNum=11235&SubjectID=2|website=Illinois Government News Network|accessdate=3 November 2014}}
External links
- [http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/files/6413/8445/9384/MukoyamaTranscript_.pdf Transcript of interview with Pritzker Military Museum & Library]
- [http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/holt-oral-history-program/james-h-mukoyama-major-general/ Profile for the Oral History Program at Pritzker Military Museum & Library]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140503014830/http://www.army.mil/asianpacificamericans/profiles Profile on the U.S. Army website]
- [http://jockopodcast.com/2018/05/09/124-hardcore-recondo-general-james-mook-mukoyama-everyday-is-a-great-day-i-have-my-faith-my-family-and-live-in-the-finest-country-in-the-world/ Mukoyama interview]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIHz5QuRPpE/ 2nd Mukoyama Interview]
- [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-our-american-stories-49628681/episode/moral-injury-the-invisible-epidemic-affecting-171024099 Moral Injury: the Invisible Epidemic Affecting American Veterans - Our American Stories Interview with General Mukoyama]