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Gallup Sun VOL 10 | ISSUE 505
www.gallupsun.com
November 29, 2024
GALLUP SUN EXCLUSIVE
HONORING 'HERSHEY' GRAPHIC NOVEL TELLS RENOWNED VETERAN'S STORY
Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura was held for 28 months as a prisoner of war immediately following the actions that earned him the Medal of Honor. File Photo
By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
T
he people of Gallup know Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura’s story, but now it’s ava ilable to a wider audience. In August, the Association of the United States Army released an eightpage graphic novel that details Miyamura’s life and the events that led up to him earning a Medal of Honor for his service in the Korean War. Every year, AUSA publishes four graphic novels that tell the story of a Medal of Honor recipient. These graphic novels can be found online at http:// www.ausua.org/moh or interested parties can pick up a physical copy at AUSA’s annual conference in October. “With the Medal of Honor series we want to cover a wide spectrum of stories that represent the recipients of the Medal of Honor going back to the Civil War up to the present day,” Joseph Craig, the director of AUSA’s book program, explained. “Each year when we’re releasing four new stories we want to make sure we’re covering different conflicts.” The project has been going on for eight years, and during that time AUSA has covered heroes from the Civil War to the modern War on Terror. AUSA enlists the help of professionals in the comic book field to tell these heroes’ stories. Chuck Dixon started his career in the comic book world in the ‘80s. He has worked for both DC and Marvel, and is the co-creator of the Batman character Bane. He’s written the script for 12 of these AUSA graphic novels. In an interview with the Sun,
Part of Hiroshi Miyamura's story includes Joe Annello, a fellow solider who was injured in battle. As Chinese soliders were marching Miyamura and fellow soliders away, Annello lay injured on the ground. Miyamura refused to leave him. They both survived the war, and Annello often visited Miyamura in Gallup until his death in 2018. File Photo he explained a little bit they know they’re telling in the 2nd Battalion, about his writing process an accurate story. They 7th Infantry Regiment, for these projects. also have historians dou- Third Infantry Division. “We don’t try to get too ble and triple check their According to congresexploitative or graphic work. sional archives, during with these things, but “These stories are a night attack by the we definitely try to show so amazing they don’t Chinese military, he saw the impression that [the need embellishment,” that his squad could not conditions these men and Craig said. “The truth hold much longer, so he women faced] ordered his men were hor r it o r e t r e a t . He t's been an honor to remained behind ble,” Di xon said. “There t o cover t hei r share these stories are a lot of withdrawal, killt h i n g s w e with people." ing an estimated don’t put in minimum of 50 it. I can only invading Chinese - Joseph Craig, the director of the forces. imagine how Association of the United States Army's book a JapaneseDixon called American program M i y a m u r a ’ s m ig ht h ave actions a “superbeen singled human effort.” out for special attention is remarkable, and we’d Miyamura was capby the North Koreans.” like to share that truth tured immediately after Dixon said he didn’t with the American pub- the actions that led to know anything about lic. It’s been an honor to his award. As he and Miyamura’s story before share these stories with other prisoners of war Cr a ig gave h i m t he people.” were ma rched away, assignment. he helped his wounded “I enjoy finding out MIYAMURA’S friend Joe Annello keep about these men and STORY moving, but the North women, these stories Miyamura was born Koreans threatened to that I didn’t know about on Oct. 6, 1925 in Gallup. shoot him if he did not before,” Dixon said. “It’s He arrived in Korea leave Annello behind. an honor to do this stuff, i n No v e m b e r 19 5 0 . Miyamura refused, but seriously.” He wa s awa rded the Annello convinced him Craig explained that Med a l of Honor for to put him down. when AUSA decides to his actions on April 24 Annello survived the feature a Medal of Honor and 25 1951, south of war and later visited recipient’s story, they the Imjin River nea r Miyamura in Gallup. use the official citation Taejon-ni (Daejeon-ni) in Miyamura’s was the that recognizes the per- Yeoncheon County, while first Medal of Honor to be son’s actions. That way, serving as a corporal classified Top Secret. As
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Brigadier General Ralph Osborne explained to Miyamura and a group of reporters upon notifying them of his medal, “If the Reds knew what he had done to a good number of their soldiers just before he was taken prisoner, they might have taken
revenge on this young man. He might not have come back.” Miyamura was held for 28 months. He was awarded the Medal of Honor while he was still being held captive. At the time, the U.S. Army didn’t know if they would be giving the award to Miyamura posthumously or not. Following his relea se on Aug. 20, 1953, Miya mura wa s informed that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to sergeant. He was repatriated to the U.S. and honorably discharged from the military shortly thereafter. His medal was presented to him by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1953.
See GRAPHIC NOVEL, Page A3
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