PFC Herbert Kailieha Pililaʻau (1928-1951)

Korean War Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Near Pia-ri, Korea, on September 17, 1951 on a hill called "Heartbreak Ridge" his platoon became under enemy attack. Wave after wave of fanatical troops were repulsed until ammunition became practically exhausted and it was ordered to withdraw to a new position. He voluntarily remained to stay behind to cover his unit’s retreat. Firing his weapon into the ranks of the assailants, throwing grenades and fighting in hand-to-hand combat with his trench knife and bare fists until finally mortally wounded. When the position was subsequently retaken, more than 40 enemy dead were counted in the area he had defended. His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously and accredited to the state of Hawaii.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith