Photos courtesy of the owner.
Posthumously awarded on September 23, 1939 to Hitoshi Okada /岡田一四/.
Document No. 227 647.
Cavalier.
Extract from a 1941 book listing Japanese soldiers KIA in China Incident.
Holder of the 5th Class Golden Kite and 7th Class Rising Sun.
Okada Hitoshi.
Registered home: Hiroshima Prefecture, Toyota District, Tadanoumi Town.
Date of birth: June 13, 1915 .
Place of death: Near a public field.
Ribbon and case.
Posthumously awarded on September 23, 1939 to Hitoshi Okada /岡田一四/.
Document No. 227 647.
Cavalier.
Extract from a 1941 book listing Japanese soldiers KIA in China Incident.
Holder of the 5th Class Golden Kite and 7th Class Rising Sun.
Okada Hitoshi.
Registered home: Hiroshima Prefecture, Toyota District, Tadanoumi Town.
Date of birth: June 13, 1915 .
Place of death: Near a public field.
He landed in front of the enemy and served as a boat captain. In the landing operations at Poyang Lake as well as Dongting Lake, he served as a boat captain, braving the high waves and the rain of enemy bullets. In the midst of the dead and dying, he encouraged his crew with shouts and yells. In order to avoid sinking, he directed the vessel around mines and was able to land the boat in a field that was full of enemy soldiers. He prayed for the safe landing of his vessel and became the leader of each and every soldier who was on board with him. Although he was able to land the vessel safely, the bullets of the enemy pierced his chest and he died honourably as a hero.
Ribbon and case.