Edward Kaneshiro was born in Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii in 1928. The eighth child of 16 siblings, he resided in Hawaii and grew up working on the family farm. Kaneshiro graduated from Leilehua High School in June 1946, then worked for several civilian employers until his enlistment in the Army on April 2, 1959. Upon completion of advanced individual training as an infantryman, he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He served in non-combat overseas tours in Okinawa, Japan and South Korea, and was then assigned Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He deployed to Vietnam as a squad leader within his platoon.
During a mission in Kim Son Valley, Vietnam, in December 1966, his unit came under fire from North Vietnamese troops. Kaneshiro crawled forward to attack, using six grenades and an M16 rifle. This brave and selfless act not only saved the lives of U.S. Soldiers, but also resulted in success for the next mission of the Army forces. Kaneshiro was later killed in action on March 6, 1967, as a result of a hostile gunshot wound.
Kaneshiro left behind his wife Mitsuko and their five children. She began a life of tremendous difficulty raising five children alone, the oldest daughter at 10 and the youngest son at only four months. Mitsuko passed away on April 10, 2022, at the age of 90.
