Medal of Honor recipient killed in Vietnam War finally returns homeOn New Year’s Day 1969, while on a flying mission, Rodney Yano, who was serving as a crew chief, came under attack.
By Jonathan Masaki
Published: Nov. 10, 2025
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In the early 1960s, Kona native Rodney Yano left high school early, motivated to serve in the U.S. Army.
The U.S. sent its first troops to Vietnam in 1965. Yano was already enlisted and became part of a combat helicopter crew.
He quickly rose through the ranks, which did not surprise his family.
“He wasn’t mischief, but he was more of a go-getter or braver than my older brother and I,” said his younger brother, Glenn Yano.
After serving two tours in Vietnam, Yano came home for some R&R. He sat his baby brother down and had this discussion with him.
“He told me that he was gonna go back for a third tour,” Glenn said. “He signed up for a third tour in order to keep me out of the war longer.”
Shortly after that, Yano returned to Vietnam to continue his final tour of duty.
On New Year’s Day 1969, while on a flying mission, Yano, who was serving as a crew chief, came under attack. A phosphorus grenade went off inside the helicopter blinding the pilot and co-pilot.
Yano, who was already critically injured, managed to get the grenade out of the aircraft. His actions ultimately enabled the Huey helicopter to land safely.
He, however, was mortally wounded and died a few days later.
“Although he died for his country and people and all of his friends and the chopper crew, I believe he passed for me, died for me,” shared Glenn.
Sgt. 1st Class Yano was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions. These actions have not been forgotten.
His valor has been immortalized with many monuments.
In Kona, his hometown, you’ll find the Yano Memorial Hall. In Camp Zuma, Japan, there’s a fitness center named after Yano. And at sea, a Navy vessel is named the USNS Yano.
“I’m honored that they do it, but still, I would rather have him there,” said Glenn.
Yano was first laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. His remains were recently exhumed, and this coming Veterans Day, he will be laid to rest at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, just a short distance from where he was born and raised.
“It was my mom’s wish to have him home on this island of Hawaii,” Glenn explained.
Glenn says Yano’s final resting place on the hills of Mount Hualalai has a beautiful panoramic view of a place that he loved very much.
“That ocean that he overlooked from West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, it’s the ocean that he played and enjoyed very much,” Glenn said.
“All I can do is say thank you because he didn’t come back where I could thank him personally,” he added.
On this Veterans Day, to Sgt. 1st Class Yano and all veterans past and present, thank you for your service on behalf of a grateful nation.
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