[1] Two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Nakae joined the US Army in February 1942.

Nakae was one of 22 Americans of Japanese descent who received the Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000 (about two years after his death) by President Bill Clinton.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1963, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private Masato Nakae distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on August 19, 1944, near Pisa, Italy.

When his submachine gun was damaged by a shell fragment during a fierce attack by a superior enemy force, Private Nakae quickly picked up his wounded comrade’s M-1 rifle and fired rifle grenades at the steadily advancing enemy.

Despite his injury, he refused to surrender his position and continued firing at the advancing enemy.