The Nation lost one of its heroes on 29 November 2022. Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, loved ones, and holding the hands of two of his granddaughters. Born on 6 October 1925 in Gallup, New Mexico to Yaichi Miyamura and Tori Matsukawa, the young-at-heart 97 year-old led a full life as a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. It was in this great town in western New Mexico where he would meet and later marry the love of his life, Tsuruko “Terry” Tsuchimori in 1948.

He embodied Gallup’s recognition as “America’s most patriotic small town,” when he enlisted into the Army in 1944 at the age of 18. He was assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an almost all second-generation Japanese-American unit, which would later become famous as the most decorated unit in military history. Having caught the tail end of WWII, it would be five years later before Hershey found himself as a machine gun squad leader in the midst of a heated battle on the Korean Peninsula, fully engaged in the Korean War. It was through his selfless actions one fateful night that led to his award of our nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

After years overseas, Hershey returned to Gallup to his beloved wife, Terry, to start their beautiful family. Together, they created a home, where their three children Mike, Pat, and Kelly became the cornerstone for their household. Following in his father’s footsteps as a business owner, Hershey opened up a successful full-service gas station, which became known as a dependable stop for many patrons passing through on Route 66. He proudly maintained that gas station for twenty-five years before retiring.

It would be later, once the kids were grown, that Hershey would reunite with his military history. In remembering the actions he took during the Korean War, he began to visit the troops around the globe, re-telling his story as a young man who thought he was “just doing his duty.”

Throughout his travels, he always made time to visit with old friends and to spend time with his grandkids and great grandkids. All share fond memories of being the go-to granddad for candy, a good laugh, and a loving hug.

Hershey was a man of grace and humility, who did not like to be the center of attention, despite his commendation. However, he understood what the Medal of Honor represents, not only to the town, but to the citizens of our great nation, and he made it a point to represent America in the highest regards. He believed in placing faith and effort into God, Family, and Country, and all will work out in the end.

He was preceded in death by his wife Terry in December 2014, his father Yaichi Miyamura in 1965, his mother Tori (Matsukawa) Miyamura in 1936, his sisters  Chiyoko Herrera in 2003 and Momoko Saruwatari in 2011, and his brothers George Miyamura in 1927 and Kei Miyamura in 2016.

Hershey is survived by his sons, Mike (Marianne) Miyamura and Pat (Jill) Miyamura, his daughter, Kelly (Clay) Hildahl, his granddaughters, Megan Miyamura, Marisa (Joe) Regan, and Madison Miyamura, his grandson Ian Miyamura, his great grandchildren Marshall Miyamura, Thomas Regan, Emi Regan, Michael Regan, Lora Regan, and his sisters Michiko Yoshida, Suzi Tashiro and Shige Sasaki.

His funeral services will be held on Saturday, 10 Dec 2022 in Gallup, NM.

For those who would like to give donations in lieu of flowers, please support the Miyamura High School Scholarship Foundation by making donations out to either “McKinley Education Foundation” (annotate the Memo line as HMHS Scholarship Fund) or “HMHS Scholarship Fund,” and mailing to: Attn—Gerald Herrera MEF, Treasurer, 1038 W Layland Ave, Queen Creek, AZ 85140-3532. 

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