[4] Yano left high school without graduating, joined the Army from Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961, and served in the field of helicopter maintenance.

On that day, near Biên Hòa in the Republic of Vietnam, Yano, who was normally a technical inspector, volunteered to act as helicopter crew chief and door gunner on the aircraft commanded by John Bahnsen during combat action in Operation Toan Thang II.

Despite being burned and partially blinded and having lost the use of one arm, Yano proceeded to throw and kick the remaining ammunition off the helicopter as flaming grenade fragments caused it to catch fire and detonate.

His actions enabled the crew to regain control of the aircraft, fly to the 93rd Evacuation Hospital, and land safely.

Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle.

Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control.

Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew.