CHICAGO — With family and friends by his side, an American war hero is honored with France’s highest distinction.
At 99 years old and more than 75 years after serving in World War II, Mr. Enoch Kanaya, a decorated war veteran, received the French Legion of Honor, which he says doesn’t just recognize his sacrifice, but the sacrifice of many veterans who served and fought with him.
On Thursday afternoon inside of the Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church, the Consul General of France to the Midwest pinned Kanaya.
“I never thought that this would happen,” Kanaya said. “All I heard was I was going to get a medal and that was it.”
In 1941 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Kanaya, a Japanese-American, was forced into an internment camp with his family.
In 1944 at the age of 19, Kanaya joined the U.S. Army.
“I was actually a replacement for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was composed of Japanese Americans,” Kanaya said.
Sgt. Kanaya and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were assigned to France.
“When I joined them, they had just come back from a big battle to rescue the lost battalion of Texans,” he said. “They were lost and they were surrounded. No one could help them.”
The 442nd was called in.
“So they finally called upon us, the 442nd Regimental Unit, to go and rescue them. So it took them three or four days of combat before they were able to rescue the lost battalion and that’s when the 442nd kind of became famous,” he said.
Decades later, Kanaya’s sacrifice is not forgotten.
“This is a ver prestigious award,” his daughter, Carola, said. “It’s not given lightly or often but he is well deserving. He has sacrificed his entire life for the U.S.”
Kanaya’s selfless service didn’t stop after the military. His daughter Barbara says her dad played a big role in why this church is here today.
“My dad actually helped build this more or less, like I said, he spent his entire life as a volunteer custodian,” she said.
Kanaya is moving from Chicago later this month to New York later this week to live with his daughter.
His loved ones said he’s in good health and is still able to drive.