National Affairs: The Greatest VIP

After his release from a Communist prison camp in Korea last week, a thin, boyish-looking Nisei soldier from Gallup, N.Mex. went through Freedom Village's routine processing: a puff of DDT powder, a quick physical examination and a cup of ice cream. Then, to his astonishment, Sergeant Hiroshi H. Miyamura, 27, was pulled out of line and led to a rosette of microphones in the press area. While cameras whirred, Brigadier General Ralph Osborne, commanding officer of Freedom Village, made an announcement. "I want to take this occasion to welcome the greatest VIP, the most distinguished guest to pass through this center. Miyamura, you have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor."

The sergeant, second Japanese-American (first in Korea) to win the nation's highest award, could only gulp. Then, when the correspondents pressed him for details, he told his story. In April 1951, he and his squad were holding a position near the Imjin River. That night, the Chinese attacked. Miyamura and his men gave ground reluctantly, used up nearly all their ammunition. With only four of his twelve men left, Miyamura collected the remaining ammunition, ordered the others to fall back while he covered their retreat. By the time they had reached safety, Sergeant Miyamura was surrounded by the Communists. As he was led past his squad's old defensive position, Miyamura counted 40 to 50 dead Chinese. For 28 months the sergeant was a prisoner, and his Congressional Medal was a well-kept Defense Department secret. If the award had been publicly announced, General Osborne explained to Sergeant Miyamura last week, "you might not have come back alive."