Francis Brown Wai (April 14, 1917 – October 20, 1944) was a United States Army captain who was killed in action during the U.S. amphibious assault and liberation of the Philippine Islands from Japan in 1944, during World War II.

[9] He intended to work alongside his father in real estate and banking but instead joined the military upon America's entry into World War II.

[9] Wai enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in October 1940[7] and was called into active duty before the United States' entrance into World War II.

[9] The 24th Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, was among the first American units to be involved in the Pacific Theater, exchanging fire with Japanese aircraft during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

[11] With training completed, the division moved to Goodenough Island on January 31, 1944, to prepare for Operation Reckless, the amphibious invasion of Hollandia, Netherlands New Guinea (now Jayapura, in the Papua province of Indonesia).

[13] After occupying the Hollandia area, Wai's Division was assigned to X Corps of the Sixth United States Army in preparation for the invasion of the Philippines and embarked on October 13, 1944.

When the 34th Infantry landed at Red Beach, the Japanese forces stationed on the island concentrated their fire on the waves of incoming troops from gun positions located in a palm grove bounded by submerged rice paddies.

[15][6] Wai's remains were permanently interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (better known as the "Punchbowl") and a military funeral was conducted for him on September 8, 1949 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

[17] In 1996, amid allegations of prejudicial treatment of Asian Americans in uniform in World War II,[6] Congress directed Louis Caldera, then Secretary of the Army, to conduct a full review of military records.

[21] Captain Wai's military decorations and awards: Rank: Captain Conflict/era: World War II Unit/Command: Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment Military Service Branch: U.S. Army Medal of Honor Action Date: October 20, 1944 Medal of Honor Action Place: Red Beach, Leyte, Philippine Islands[20] For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Captain Wai landed at Red Beach, Leyte, in the face of accurate, concentrated enemy fire from gun positions advantageously located in a palm grove bounded by submerged rice paddies.

Issuing clear and concise orders, and disregarding heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire, he began to move inland through the rice paddies without cover.