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B-^AOncanZEN/l^day^Aprfl^WW" Nisei Chushingura: 442nd Regimental Combat Team Photo by Sham Futaj*c) 'GO FOR BROKE EXHRVT--4rasde the Presxflo Am*/ Museum at San Francisco tooJong at a showcase Joader/'by 442nd and 100th Infantry memorabilia are Nisei veterans and ^a«rr»iatrvesafwrtr«lyUrch7deoK»hoa ByMLMSUMUJA Id 1942 Qnef Justice Earl Warren, whue Attorney General of California and prior to naming far Governor,abip,saai before the HfJUSf Sfjfft rntwmmwo Ttiwafigiitnig Mjrtvwtal MJgrmWv al danger among the group of Japaneae who *.. .there is more prerrtfisl danger srotng the group < arp bom m yt^^ ocAMXEry c^uneocm cmzccs) tim> fHin m^ iifti^f^ JADenese who were bom m Japan... I believe we sre just betogaiOedsstos false sense of security sod that the onfy reason we hsvent had s ilii—m i at CaWaraa is because it has been omed for a dnTerert ...ourdsyof POClGCEflOS 13 OOUDu CD *■ *'* ^f' ... Col Karl Robom rVrslrtsrn, Wartime Ovihau Control Ad- rnimstrarjon (WCCA) officer in charge of me mihrary phase of f^i ntr\ prf trw\ sod n^witvn cf tne American' injwwn and J speoese in Oxicenrratxxi Camps in World War II wrote m the final Military Report art official explanation: ■With the nsnon st war, the possibility of ssbotaatt,eapaansge; and fifth coiumn acovtty made necessary s anhtary decision to safeguard the security of the Cmirnanri (Western Defense Command). The Japanese Americans were removed in order to insure that *if our enemy were coming up the beaches, they would not be sbk to jam them." Right after Dec'7, 1941, whue all Americans of. ancestry were US citizens, they were considered *t>ersona nun grata" and treated as enemy aliens. Many already in the Army were "cashed our". Nisei classified IA were reclassified to 4C a classification for Aliens not subject to the draft (Enemy Aliens). No formal charges of espionage, sabotage or subversive activity, all treasonable offenses, were ever made against these American dozens of Japanese ara^estry. Wimcut benexit cf due process or a trial, all the Japanese Amencaos on the West Coast were herded into aiTi^entrarioD camps de as hostages. On Jan. 28, 1943, the War Depaitiueut changed its policy, anrjounced it would seek Japanese American volunteers for a special combat urat The Nisei bad been in c Rescue of Tost Battalion' regarded as one of the 10 major battles in U^histDiy. up to ten months. Some opposed ttekieaof analWiseiuniLTne prospect of further segregation received negative reception. The people m camp became divided on the issue and conflict arose In some families, one son volunteered for service, whue another vowed not to serve even if drafted. Eventually more than s 1000 tfiseivoiurteered, leave* fan^ hes and dependents behind bart^ wu^ They jomed the nssay volunteers from Hawaii and other Nisei whn were already ai me Army to form the 100/442nd Regimental Combat Teem. The original 100/442nd at full strength was composed of ap- prruTrruttf^ 3,500 rneri, and tfae^ with great disrinrnVfi in seven European r anfaagns, under the back cry—'XJo for Broker In me month of October 1944, the berok rescue cf das "Lost Battabcn- of the 36th Texas Drviswibytbel<X>l42rjdRCTtDOk place. This is one of the grim dramas of the Nisei mWcrki War a displaying courage and a fighting spuit for then* country that shall never be forgotten by Japanese Amerxaoa To many the story is the equal of any in natatory history, but it was over- dbadowed by the press coverage of the <3ssifecf the Bulge* and Bastogne which took place a month later Ine story of the rfeai was all but forgotten in mihtery history Maj. Gen John E Dahiquiat, Qanmsndaat General of the 36m Division, described that the fighting took pisce an cnW wtoer spproacbed in the rugged, heavu> forested VoagesMoi Ranee, through terrain as dtffkajfc as any array has countered Snow had already fallen and was c cast and freezing The 442nd asnniittnri to battle on Oct 14 had liberated the town of Bruyeres on Oct IB They were relieved for a much needed rest by the 141st Regiment on Oct 23 after securing the high ground fringing the lime town A few days later the 141st Infantry Regiment was stopped by a heavy counter attack and needed reinforcements. The First Battalion of the 141st bad moved fast and over extended itself and were trapped on a ridge between La Crauwre and Vane- rnonte The Germans filtered in behind them "cutting them off" from other friendly una* The First Battalion was ordered to fight their way back and the Second and Third Batallion of the 141st were ia uei ul to toeir rescue but niet heavy (|gwaiiiiiii and mrown back after heavy casuarries, Tne Battalion had been cut off by trje Germans fcrinore than a week. Ammirrntirn and supplies were running out and me outlook was grim. fimifKl supplies reached the group by sir drop. To get water they had to crawl to a swampy mudbole and fill their canrmw under enemy fire. For five days they had been without food or medical supphes. There were no doctors and those that died of wounds were buried an the spot The "Last Battalion" called for extra effort With only two days of rest, the 100th and 3rd Battabcn of the 442nd were ordered to carry out the rescue mission The orders were to reach them at any cost The 442nd rnovedinmact«x,snddurtog the next four days, they engaged in the Uoodaeat and fiercest rwiimp ever undertaken. Tbel(XJk442rjdhadtomakemeirway wooded rugged terrain The enemy, well dug m, were ready for any counter attack The Nisei fought from tree to tree, agamat hatkirn nisrhirsf gun nests and tank supported infantry. Tne ********************************** Battles of the 10G/442nd RCT Sevea Major Campaigns Volturno River Carrara Rapido River Cassino Maritime Alps Anzio Beachhead Hill 140 Massa Belvedere iip-i+nm Genoa Leghorn ArnoRiver Invasion of Soutoern France Bruyeres Rescue of Lost Battauon LaSpezia Regimental Record Seven (7) Presidential Unit Gtstions Two Meritorious Service Unit Plaques Thirty-six Army Commendations Eighty-seven Division Commendations Eighteen Decorations from Allied Nations Special Plaque from "Lost Battalion" "Honorary Texans" Proclamation by Gov. John Connolly Lndividual Awards and Decoratjoos One CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR (Posthumously conferred upon PFC Sadao Munemon who gsve his life by using bis own body to cover an enemy grenade and thus saved the lives of his comrades in the same "foxhole".) Fifty-two (52) Distinguished Service Crosses. One (1) Distinguished Service Medal Taree-hundred-snd-sixty (360) Stiver Crosses Twenty-eight (28) Oak Leaf dusters Twenty-two (22) Legions of Merit Fifteen (IS) Soldiers Medals Four-thousand (4.000) Bronze Stars - Twelve-hundred (1,200) Oak Leaf Ousters Nine-thousand four-hundred eighty-sue (9,486) Purple Hearts including Oak Leaf Clusters (Some men earned three Purple Hearts) Twelve (12) French Croix de Guerre Two (2) Palms to Croix de Guerre Two (2) Italian Crosses for Military Merit "tree bursts" from ban ages of heavy mortar and arnuery fire rained shrapnd and took heavy toll of men advancing in the open. They crossed minefields and encouTirered countless boooy traps. They fought valiantly and never faltered in their deter- mirjed drive to reach the trapped a counter attack designed to cut off the I00v'442nd and broke through friendly forces on their left flank. Flghring off the raew danger taking heavy losses they crairjnued fighting under suv cidai coratroons. After the third day of heme the 10rj/442nd penetrated the enemy mam line of defense Their second line was equally difficult to handle Finally on Oct 30, when rluiigs kx*ed almost hopeless for the Tost battalion", tbemenof tfielOQ/442ralbToke mrougfa the enemy lines and were able to make contact The men of the 141st wept tears of relief but there was little ceiebra- tiau. Bame fatigue left no time for jubilation; heavy kisses were suffered by both the rescued and the rescuers. lTte447ad,SnstaJnndacIisaiif<aato In a military review after the beme^ General Dsnlquist wanted to thank the 442nd personally. When be saw only a few hundred men out of a usual cornplemem cf 4«S00 enmpostog a Regimental Combat Team, he asked Colonel Charies W. Fence of the 442nd Regiment, *\vhere are rhe rest of the mm>" Qaorjei Pence with noticeable tears in his eyes, sadly renued"Sff, you're looking at the entire regiment ...that's all that is left! r The batbe had taken a heavy toO of rnen. Qxnpany K suarted with 200 rifaemen--all the officers were em^er killed cr wounded; leaving a sergeammconmiand of 17m the officers and was ummaratwl by a Private First Class and had only 8 men left Tne other cornpaniw of the 442nd were equally ctecunated. nxBterirai 25 and at most 50 men for review —-the others all dead or wcanded * The casually list for the heroic rescue of the Lost Battalion, was 800 Nisei casiasfties including 200 lolled in action. The total raanber rescued were 300 comrades of the 36th Texas Division. Tne 442nd had lost more men than they had rescued, • • * The rampaign in Southern France, October 13 to November 15, the entry into the Vosges Mountains, liberation of Bruyeres and the rescue of the Lost Battalion, cost the 442nd a total of 2300 casualties in three weeks. After the month of intensive fighting, the Combat team could not goon without replacements. - The-casualties were much higher riian expected and ttiere were no trained Japanese Americans to fill me gap. Tne 442nd waited for replacements, most of them from the concentranon camps. When me Regunem reached full strengtn. it secretry returned to Italy to fight further batdes against the enemy. The Japanese Americans who were "persona nan grata" and "suspects" of treason to the United States had volunteered from enncentranon camps and Hawaii to pay this heavy pnee to fight for their country and for a principle which they judged to be worth the cost 442nd Regiment Welcomed Home as Heroes On July 15, 1946, the 442nd RCT returned home. President Harry Truroao awarded the 7tfa Presidential Disririgtushed Unit Citation after reviewing the troops in toe rain in Washington DC and on that occasion sakL "It is a very great pleasure to me today to be abie to put the seventh Distinguished Unit Qtarjon an your banner "You are ft) be congratulated an what you have done for this great country of ours. I think tt was my prrrirowwor who said mat Amencap- ism is not a matter of race or creed, u is a matter of heart "You fought for the free naoansaf the world along with the rest of us I congratulate you on that, and I can't toll you how very much the United States of America thinks of what you have done. "You are now on your way home. You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice and you have won. Keep up that fight, and we wul cononue to win • to make this great repubuc stand for just what the Qnsorunon says d stands for The welfare of a^ people for all ume." Box Score of me 442nd RCT The Selective Service records reveal duriraj the campaigns in Italy and France that the 442nd suffered 9,486 casualties and that more than 600 were killed in action They had suffered casualra almost 3M% the caign^ The 442nd received 18443 individual decarabons and even- tuaily becarrjetaioMmas*thernostde length of service to uVriistnry of the United States." nssslttveduptoand firueer-H justified is morav -Go Far aaiartlists is heard today at reg-
Object Description
Title | JACL Newspaper |
Description | A collection of articles from the JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) Newspaper. |
Subjects | Community activities -- Associations and organizations -- Japanese American Citizens League |
Type | image |
Genre | News reports |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 34 items |
Project Name | California State University Japanese American Digitization Project |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Description
Local ID | csufr_hfp_0458 |
Project ID | csufr_hfp_0458 |
Title | Page 17 |
Creator | M.M. Sumida |
Date Created | 1981 - 04 - 03 |
Subjects | Community activities -- Associations and organizations -- Japanese American Citizens League |
Type | image |
Genre | News reports |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 8.36 x 10.88in |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Transcript |
B-^AOncanZEN/l^day^Aprfl^WW"
Nisei Chushingura: 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Photo by Sham Futaj*c)
'GO FOR BROKE EXHRVT--4rasde the Presxflo Am*/
Museum at San Francisco tooJong at a showcase Joader/'by
442nd and 100th Infantry memorabilia are Nisei veterans and
^a«rr»iatrvesafwrtr«lyUrch7deoK»hoa
ByMLMSUMUJA
Id 1942 Qnef Justice Earl Warren, whue Attorney General of
California and prior to naming far Governor,abip,saai before the
HfJUSf Sfjfft rntwmmwo Ttiwafigiitnig Mjrtvwtal MJgrmWv
al danger among the group of Japaneae who
*.. .there is more prerrtfisl danger srotng the group <
arp bom m yt^^ ocAMXEry c^uneocm cmzccs) tim> fHin m^ iifti^f^ JADenese
who were bom m Japan... I believe we sre just betogaiOedsstos false
sense of security sod that the onfy reason we hsvent had s ilii—m i at
CaWaraa is because it has been omed for a dnTerert ...ourdsyof
POClGCEflOS 13 OOUDu CD *■ *'* ^f' ...
Col Karl Robom rVrslrtsrn, Wartime Ovihau Control Ad-
rnimstrarjon (WCCA) officer in charge of me mihrary phase of
f^i ntr\ prf trw\ sod n^witvn cf tne American' injwwn and J speoese
in Oxicenrratxxi Camps in World War II wrote m the final
Military Report art official explanation:
■With the nsnon st war, the possibility of ssbotaatt,eapaansge; and fifth
coiumn acovtty made necessary s anhtary decision to safeguard the
security of the Cmirnanri (Western Defense Command). The Japanese
Americans were removed in order to insure that *if our enemy were
coming up the beaches, they would not be sbk to jam them."
Right after Dec'7, 1941, whue all Americans of.
ancestry were US citizens, they were considered *t>ersona nun
grata" and treated as enemy aliens. Many already in the Army
were "cashed our". Nisei classified IA were reclassified to
4C a classification for Aliens not subject to the draft (Enemy
Aliens). No formal charges of espionage, sabotage or subversive
activity, all treasonable offenses, were ever made against these
American dozens of Japanese ara^estry. Wimcut benexit cf due
process or a trial, all the Japanese Amencaos on the West Coast
were herded into aiTi^entrarioD camps de
as hostages.
On Jan. 28, 1943, the War Depaitiueut changed its policy,
anrjounced it would seek Japanese American volunteers for a
special combat urat The Nisei bad been in c
Rescue of Tost Battalion'
regarded as one of the 10 major
battles in U^histDiy.
up to ten months. Some opposed ttekieaof analWiseiuniLTne
prospect of further segregation received negative reception.
The people m camp became divided on the issue and conflict
arose In some families, one son volunteered for service, whue
another vowed not to serve even if drafted.
Eventually more than s 1000 tfiseivoiurteered, leave* fan^
hes and dependents behind bart^ wu^ They jomed the nssay
volunteers from Hawaii and other Nisei whn were already ai me
Army to form the 100/442nd Regimental Combat Teem.
The original 100/442nd at full strength was composed of ap-
prruTrruttf^ 3,500 rneri, and tfae^
with great disrinrnVfi in seven European r anfaagns, under the
back cry—'XJo for Broker
In me month of October 1944, the berok rescue cf das "Lost
Battabcn- of the 36th Texas Drviswibytbel |