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442nd Infantry Regiment
442nd Infantry Regiment Coat of Arms
Active	1944-08-10 - 1946-08-15 1947-07-31 - 1969-12-12
Country	USA
Branch	US Army Reserve
Type	Separate Regiment
Motto	Go For Broke
Colors	Blue and White
Battles/wars	World War II

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, hiking up a muddy French road in the Chambois Sector, France, in late 1944.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army, was a unit composed of mostly Japanese Americans who fought in Europe during the Second World War. The families of many of its soldiers were subject to internment. The 442nd was a self-sufficient fighting force, and fought with distinction in North Africa, Italy, southern France, and Germany, becoming the most highly decorated unit of its size and length of service in the history of the U.S. Army, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Download high resolution version (2736x2218, 971 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2736x2218, 971 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Chambois is a city in France, and was part of the Falaise pocket. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Serving from 1999 to 2003, Army General Eric Shinseki of Hawaii became the first Asian American military chief of staff. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Jerome War Relocation Center in Jerome, Arkansas Japanese people heading off to an internment camp. ... North Africa is the Mediterranean, northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

Background

Most Japanese Americans who fought in WWII were Nisei who were second-generation Japanese Americans born in the U.S. Nevertheless, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese American men were categorized as 4C (enemy alien) and therefore non-draftable. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing military authorities “to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion.” Although the order did not refer specifically to people of Japanese ancestry, it set the stage for the internment of people of Japanese descent. In March 1942, Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, head of the Western Defense Command, issued the first of 108 military proclamations that resulted in the forced removal of more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast from their homes and to internment or relocation camps. The Nisei Japanese Americans (二世 pronounced , lit. ... This article is about the harbor in Hawaii. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... FDR redirects here. ... United States Executive Order 9066 was a presidential executive order issued during World War II by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, using his authority as Commander-in-Chief to exercise war powers to send ethnic groups to internment camps. ... US Lieutenant General insignia In three branches of the United States Army, United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force, a Lieutenant General is also called a three-star general, named for the three stars worn on the uniform. ... For other uses, see John DeWitt (athlete). ...

442nd Regimental Combat Team Distinctive Unit Insignia

In Hawai’i, martial law, complete with curfews and blackouts, was imposed. A large portion of the population was of Japanese descent (150,000 out of 400,000 people by 1937) and internment was deemed not practicable, mostly for economic reasons. When the War Department called for the removal of all soldiers of Japanese ancestry from active service in early 1942, General Delos C. Emmons (commanding general of the U.S. Army in Hawai’i) decided to discharge those in the Hawai’i Territorial Guard, which was composed mainly of ROTC students from the University of Hawai’i. However, he kept the more than 1,300 Japanese American soldiers of the 298th and 299th Infantry regiments of the Hawai’i National Guard. The discharged members of the Hawai’i Territorial Guard petitioned General Emmons to allow them to assist in the war effort. The petition was granted and they formed a group called the Varsity Victory Volunteers (VVV), which performed various construction jobs for the military. General Emmons, worried about the loyalty of Japanese American soldiers in the event of a Japanese invasion, recommended to the War Department that those in the 298th and 299th regiments be organized into a “Hawai’ian Provisional Battalion” and sent to the Mainland. The move was authorized, and on June 5, 1942, the Hawai’ian Provisional Battalion sailed for training on the Mainland. They landed at Oakland, California on June 10, 1942 and became the 100th Infantry Battalion — the “One Puka Puka”; two days later, they were sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... State nickname: The Aloha State Other U.S. States Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle Official languages Hawaiian and English Area 28,337 km² (43rd)  - Land 16,649 km²  - Water 11,672 km² (41. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Delos Carleton Emmons (1888 - 1965) was a U.S. air force general. ... The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ... This article is about the University of Hawaii system. ... The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air National Guard). ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry is the only infantry unit in the U.S. Army Reserve and combines the identities of two Second World War Japanese-American units, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. ... Fort McCoy is an active United States Army installation. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked...

The 100th performed so well in training that, on February 1, 1943, the U.S. Government reversed its decision on Japanese Americans serving in the armed forces, and approved the formation of a Japanese American combat unit. A few days later, the government required that all internees answer loyalty questionnaires, which was used to register the Nisei for the draft. Question 27 of the loyalty questionnaire asked males eligible to register for the draft, “Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?” while question 28 asked all internees, “Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power or organization?” is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Nearly a quarter of the Nisei males answered with a “no” or a qualified answer to both questions; some even left them blank.^{[citation needed]} However, more than 75% of the Nisei males indicated that they were willing to enlist in the U.S. armed forces (although not all of them really did) and swear allegiance to the U.S. The U.S. Army called for 1,500 volunteers from Hawai’i and 3,000 from the Mainland. An overwhelming 10,000 men from Hawai’i came forth. However the announcement was met with less enthusiasm on the Mainland, where the vast majority of draft age men of Japanese ancestry were held in internment camps. The Army revised the quota, calling for 2,900 men from Hawai’i, and 1,500 from the Mainland. Only 1,256 volunteered from the Mainland. In the end, around 3,000 men from Hawaii and 800 men from the Mainland were inducted. President Roosevelt announced the formation of the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team (the “Go For Broke” regiment), famously saying, “Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.” Nevertheless, families of the regiment’s members remained interned.

Training and organization

The nucleus of the new unit was the 100th Infantry Battalion, which relocated to Camp Shelby in Mississippi. Eventually, the 100th was joined by 3,000 volunteers from Hawai’i and 800 from the camps on the mainland. As a regimental combat team, the 442nd RCT was a self-sufficient fighting formation of five infantry battalions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 442d Infantry, and 100th Infantry Battalion), the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, the 232nd Engineering Company, an anti-tank company, cannon company, service company, medical detachment, headquarters companies, and the 206th Army Band. Camp Shelby is a military post approximately 15 miles south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on U.S. Highway 49. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the Second World War and Korean War. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, bicycles, or other means. ...

Initially, there was tension between volunteers from the Hawai’ian Islands (known as “buddhaheads,” from the Japanese/English term buta-head, meaning “pig-headed”) and those from the mainland (“kotonks” or “katonks”, alleged to be the sound of a coconut hitting an empty head). The rivalry between the Hawai’ian Islanders and the mainlanders dissipated after visits were organised to the internment camps where the mainlanders’ families were being held. Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 2,400 km in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawai‘i. ...

Although they were now permitted to volunteer to fight, Americans of Japanese ancestry were generally forbidden to fight in a combat role in the Pacific Theater. No such limitations were placed on Americans of German or Italian ancestry who fought against the Axis Powers in the European Theater. However, many men deemed proficient enough in the Japanese language were approached, or sometimes ordered to join the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) to serve as translators/interpreters and spies in the Pacific, as well as in the China Burma India Theater. These men were sent to the MIS Language School at Camp Savage, Minnesota to improve their language skills and receive training in military intelligence. While the 442nd trained in Mississippi, the 100th departed for Oran in North Africa to join the forces destined to invade Italy. The Pacific Ocean theater was one of four major theaters of the Pacific War, between 1941 and 1945. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... German Führer Adolf Hitler Preceding events (See also Events preceding World War II in Europe and Causes of World War II.) br Germany was in debt after World War I, due to the Great Depression and the forced payments to the victors of World War I. Germans wanted a... China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the name used by the United States Army for its forces in China, Burma, India during World War II. Well_known US units in this theater included the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, the engineers who built Ledo Road, and Merrill... memorial sign at Camp Savage site Camp Savage is the former site of an MIS language school operating during World War II. The school itself was established in San Francisco, but was moved in 1942 to Savage, Minnesota in the interest of national security. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... View of Oran Oran (Arabic: , pronounced Wahran) is a city in northwestern Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean coast. ...

Combat

A 442nd RCT squad leader checks for German units in France in November 1944.

The 100th landed at Oran in Algeria on September 2, 1943, and was originally scheduled to guard supply trains in North Africa. However, Colonel Farrant L. Turner insisted that the 100th be given a combat mission, and it was attached to the “Red Bull” U.S. 34th Division. Image File history File linksMetadata 442nd_US_Army_RCT_squad_leader_in_france. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 442nd_US_Army_RCT_squad_leader_in_france. ... View of Oran Oran (Arabic: , pronounced Wahran) is a city in northwestern Algeria, situated on the Mediterranean coast. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 34th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army National Guard that participated in World War I, World War II and continues to serve today, with most of the Division part of the Minnesota and Iowa Army National Guard. ...

The 100th sailed from North Africa with 1,300 men on September 22, 1943 and landed at Salerno on September 26, 1943. After obtaining its initial objective of Monte Milleto, the 100th joined the assault on Monte Cassino. is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Salerno is a town in Campania, south-western Italy, the capital of the province of the same name. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland New Zealand Canada Free France India and others Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark Clark Oliver Leese Albert Kesselring Heinrich von Vietinghoff Frido von Senger Strength 105,000 80,000 Casualties 54,000 20,000 The Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle...

The 100th fought valiantly, suffering many casualties; by February 1944, it could muster only 521 men. The depleted battalion joined the defense of the beachhead at Anzio until May 1944, and then added momentum to the push for Rome, but was halted only 10 miles from the city. Some believe that the 100th was deliberately halted to allow non-Nisei soldiers to liberate Rome. A beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit (by sea) reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements (hopefully) help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. ... Operation Shingle (January 22, 1944), during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5...

The 442nd (other than the 1st battalion, much of which had already been sent as replacements for the 100th, and the remainder of which remained in the U.S. to train further replacements) landed at Anzio and joined the 100th Battalion in Civitavecchia north of Rome on June 10, 1944. The 100th Battalion was now officially part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, but was allowed to keep its unit designation in recognition of its distinguished fighting record. The combined unit continued in the push up Italy, before joining the invasion of southern France, where the 442nd participated in the fight to liberate Bruyeres in south France, and famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from 26 October to 30 October 1944, the 442nd suffered over 800 casualties—nearly half of its roster—while rescuing 211 members of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry (36th Infantry Division, originally Texas National Guard), which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since 24 October. Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio, a sea port on the Tyrrhenian sea, 50 miles WNW of Rome, 42°06N 11°47E. According to the 2003 census, its population was 50,100. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... View of Bruyères from the nearby tour de lAvison Bruyères is a town in France. ... The Lost Battalion is the name given to eight American units of the 77th Division, roughly 550 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. ... The church of Saint-Antoine in Biffontaine. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States National Guard 36th Infantry Division, the Texas Division. ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard The United States National Guard is a significant component of the United States armed forces military reserve. ... Typical landscape in Vosges mountains (Chajoux valley, La Bresse, France) Waterfall in eastern Vosges mountains Glacial lake in Vosges mountains (Lac de Schiessrothried) The Vosges Mountains is a range in eastern France, stretching along the west side of the Rhine valley in a NNE direction, from Belfort to Saverne. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The 522nd Field Artillery Battalion remained in France, and joined the push into Germany in late 1944 and 1945. Scouts from the 522nd were among the first Allied troops to release prisoners from the Dachau concentration camp. The remainder of the 442nd returned to Italy to continue the fight against the Gothic Line established by German Field Marshal Kesselring in the Apennines. The main entrance just after the liberation Memorial at the camp, 1997. ... German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944 370th Infantry Regiment walking toward the mountains at north of Prato - April 1945 The Gothic Line, also known as Linea Gotica, formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselrings last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits... Replica of the marshals baton of Generalfeldmarschall von Richthofen (Third Reich) Generalfeldmarschall ( ) (general field marshal, usually translated simply as field marshal, and sometimes written only as Feldmarschall) was a rank in the armies of several German states, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Austrian Empire. ... Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed Smiling Albert or Smiling Kesselring. // At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8, 1881 [1]. However... The Apennine Mountains (Greek: Απεννινος; Latin: Appenninus--in both cases used in the singular; Italian: Appennini) is a mountain range stretching 1000 km from the north to the south of Italy along its east coast, traversing the entire peninsula, and forming, as it were, the backbone of the country. ...

The 442nd is commonly reported to have suffered a casualty rate of 314 percent (i.e., on average, each man was injured more than three times), informally derived from 9,486 Purple Hearts divided by some 3,000 original in-theater personnel. U.S. Army battle reports show the official casualty rate, combining KIA (killed) with MIA (missing) and WIA (wounded and removed from action) totals, is 93%, still uncommonly high. The Purple Heart figure, though representing a broader range of wounds including those which may not have removed a soldier from action, is disputed by some researchers. A good amount of these Purple Hearts have been awarded during the campaign in the Vosges Mountains. Some wounded were soldiers who were victims of trenchfoot. But many victims of trenchfoot were forced by superiors, or willingly chose, to return to the front even though they were classified as WIA. Wounded soldiers would often escape from hospitals to return to the front line battles. This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy. ... MIA is a three-letter acronym that is most commonly used to designate a combatant who is Missing In Action, and has not yet returned or otherwise been accounted for as either dead (KIA) or a prisoner of war (POW). ... WIA is a three letter abbreviation meaning Wounded in action. ... Trench foot (also known as Immersion Foot or Chillblains) is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp and cold. ...

Decorations

The 442nd RCT became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service, earning it the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion.” The 442nd RCT received 7 Presidential Unit Citations (5 earned in one month), and its members received around 18,000 awards, including: Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on...

• 21 Medals of Honor (the first awarded posthumously to PFC Sadao Munemori, Company A, 100th Battalion, for action near Seravezza, Italy, on April 5, 1945; the others upgraded from other awards in June 2000)
• 52 Distinguished Service Crosses (including 19 Distinguished Service Crosses which were upgraded to Medals of Honor in June 2000)
• 1 Distinguished Service Medal
• 560 Silver Stars (plus 28 Oak Leaf Clusters for a second award)
• 22 Legion of Merit Medals
• 15 Soldier’s Medals
• 4,000 Bronze Stars (plus 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters for a second award; one Bronze Star was upgraded to a Medal of Honor in June 2000)
• 9,486 Purple Hearts

For the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ... US Military In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the third lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist. ... Sadao S. Munemori (born Los Angeles, California, died April 5, 1945) was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, after he sacrificed his life to save those of his colleagues, at Seravezza, Italy, April 5, 1945, during the closing stages of World War II. A Private First Class, U... Seravezza is a small town belonging to the Provincia di Lucca, in Tuscany, Italy. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army which is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... This article concerns Distinguished Service Medals which are issued by the United States of America. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ... My Lai Massacre (1968). ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ...

After the war

The unit’s exemplary service and many decorations did not change attitudes of the general U.S. population to people of Japanese descent after World War II. Veterans were welcomed home by signs that read “No Japs Allowed” and “No Japs Wanted,” and many veterans were denied service in shops and restaurants, and had their homes and property vandalized.

As a result of the stellar record of the Japanese Americans serving in the 442nd and in the Military Intelligence Service (US Pacific Theater forces in WWII) greatly helped change the minds of anti-Japanese American critics in the US and resulted in easing of restrictions and the eventual release of the 120,000 strong community well before the end of WWII.

One notable US national effect of the service of the 442nd was to help convince Congress to end their opposition towards Hawaii's statehood petition. Twice before 1959, residents of Hawaii asked to be admitted to the US as the 49th State, but each time Congress was fearful of having a co-equal State that had a majority non-White population. The exemplary record of the Japanese Americans serving in the 442nd and the loyalty showed by the rest of Hawaii's population during WWII overcame Congress' fears and allowed Hawaii to be admitted as the 50th US State (as Alaska was granted Statehood just prior).

In post-WWII American popular slang, the phrase: "going for broke" was adopted from the 442nd's unit motto: "Go for Broke" which was derived from the Hawaiian pidgin phrase used by craps shooters risking all their money in one roll of the dice.

Anti-Japanese sentiment remained strong into the 1960s, but faded along with other once-common prejudices, even while remaining strong in certain circles. Conversely, the story of the 442nd provided a leading example of what was to become the controversial model minority stereotype. April 1984 cover of Newsweek featuring an article on the success of Asian American students Model minority refers to a minority ethnic, racial, or religious group whose members achieve a higher degree of success than the population average. ... For the 1996 Blur single, see Stereotypes (song). ...

The 442nd RCT was demobilized in Honolulu in 1946, but reactivated in 1947 in the U.S. Army Reserve. It was mobilized in 1968 to refill the Strategic Reserve during the Vietnam War. Today, the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, is the only infantry unit of the Army Reserve. The battalion headquarters is at Fort Shafter, Hawai’i, with subordinate units based in Hilo, American Samoa, Saipan, and Guam. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry is the only infantry unit in the U.S. Army Reserve and combines the identities of two Second World War Japanese-American units, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. ... Fort Shafter is in Honolulu, Hawai‘i extending up the interfluve (ridgeline) between Kalihi and Moanalua valleys, as well as onto the coastal plain (as Shafter Flats) at Māpunapuna. ... Hilo (pronounced IPA: ) is a coastal city in the State of HawaiÊ»i, and is the largest community on the island of HawaiÊ»i. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10...

In August 2004, the battalion was activated for duty in Iraq, stationed at LSA Anaconda in the city of Balad, which is located about 50 miles northwest of Baghdad. As of January 2006, the 100th had returned home with the exception of some 100 artillery personnel. One soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device attack. A total of 4 members of the battalion were killed in action before they returned home in January 2005. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 – 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ... Munitions rigged for an IED discovered by Iraqi police in Baghdad, November 2005. ...

California has given three state highway segments honorary designations for Japanese American soldiers: Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Serving from 1999 to 2003, Army General Eric Shinseki of Hawaii became the first Asian American military chief of staff. ...

• California State Route 23 between U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 118 is named the Military Intelligence Memorial Freeway;
• California State Route 99 between Fresno and Madera is named the 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Highway;
• California State Route 99 between Salida and Manteca is named the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial Highway.

State Route 23 in the U.S. State of California is a state highway mostly in Ventura County, California that runs roughly North-South from Fillmore to Malibu. ... This U.S. Highway article needs to be cleaned up to conform to both a higher standard of article quality and accepted design standards outlined in the WikiProject U.S. Highways. ... State Route 118 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that begins running west to east through Ventura and Los Angeles counties in southern California. ... JUNCTION POSTMILE I-5 KER 0. ... Nickname: Location in the state of California County Fresno Government  - Mayor Alan Autry Area  - City 104. ... Madera is the county seat of Madera County, California. ... JUNCTION POSTMILE I-5 KER 0. ... Salida is a census-designated place located in Stanislaus County, California. ... Nickname: The Family City Location of the City of Manteca, California Coordinates: Suburban Manteca Government  - Mayor Willie Weatherford Area  - City 41. ...

Prominent Members

• Daniel Inouye, U.S. Representative from Hawaii (1959–1962); U.S. Senator from Hawaii (1962–)
• Spark Matsunaga, U.S. Representative from Hawaii (1962–1976); U.S. Senator from Hawaii (1977–1990)
• Susumu Ito, Emeritus Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Harvard Medical School (1960–1990)
• Colonel Young-Oak Kim; the only Korean during his service in 442nd Infantry. First officer from an ethnic minority in U.S. history to command an Army combat battalion.
• Dale Ishimoto, actor in many films, TV shows, and commercials

Daniel Ken Inouye (born September 7, 1924) is a recipient of the Medal of Honor and currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Hawaiʻi. ... Spark Matsunaga Spark Masayuki Matsunaga (Japanese: スパーク・松永) (October 8, 1916 - April 15, 1990) was a United States Senator from Hawaii. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Colonel Young-Oak Kim (1919 - December 29, 2005) was a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran who fought in World War II and the Korean War. ... Dale Ishimoto (April 3, 1923 - March 4, 2004) was an American actor of Japanese descent. ...

Bibliography

Crost, Lyn, Honor by Fire: Japanese Americans at War in Europe and the Pacific (Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 1994). ISBN 0-89141-521-1

Works about the 442nd

• Go For Broke! This 1951 film dramatizes the lives and wartime heroics of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The film stars Van Johnson as a young officer, reluctant about his assignment to the 442nd. He comes to respect the Nisei troops, eventually refusing a transfer back to his original Texas unit. The movie also starred a number of veterans of the 442nd.
• Ed Sakamoto wrote a play about the 100th/442nd entitled Our Hearts Were Touched by Fire, which was performed in Honolulu and Los Angeles.
• In the series of four Karate Kid movies, Keisuke Miyagi is a World War II veteran who had fought in the 442nd and won the Medal of Honor. The fourth film, The Next Karate Kid, begins with a reunion of the 442nd, in which Sen. Daniel Inouye gives a speech and Mr Miyagi wears his Medal of Honor for the first and only time in all four films.
• In 2005, Lane Nishikawa directed and starred in the independent film, Only the Brave, which is a fictional account of the rescue of the Lost Battalion.

Go for Broke! is a war film released in 1951. ... Van Johnson in Battleground (1949) Van Johnson (born Charles Van Johnson on August 25, 1916, in Newport, Rhode Island) is an American film and television actor and dancer. ... The Karate Kid is a 1984 movie Karate Kid (comics) is a fictional superhero who was a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 film starring Hilary Swank and Pat Morita. ... Daniel Ken Inouye (born September 7, 1924) is a recipient of the Medal of Honor and currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Hawaiʻi. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... Lane Nishikawa is an American actor, filmmaker and performance artist. ... Only The Brave is a 2005 independent film about the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated World War II fighting unit completely made up of Japanese Americans, which for its size and length service became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. ... The Lost Battalion is the name given to eight American units of the 77th Division, roughly 550 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. ...

See also

• Go For Broke Monument
• Admission of Hawaii Act

The Go For Broke Monument in Los Angeles The Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California commemorates Japanese Americans who served overseas in the United States Military during World War II. It notes the segregated military units: the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence... In April 1959, Hawaii Delegate John A. Burns prepared to slice the Hawaii Statehood Cake at Capitol Hill with Democrat Congressmen D. S. Saund of California, James Haley of Florida and Al Ullman of Oregon. ...

External links

• Asian-Nation: 442nd RCT Rescue of the Lost Battalion
• Go For Broke National Education Center
• 100th/442nd Research Center
• katonk.com — run by Michael Furukawa
• The 442nd Regimental Combat Team
• 22 Asian Americans Inducted into Hall of Heroes (pentagon.mil)
• The "Go for Broke" Regiment Lives Duty, Honor, Country (defenselink.mil)
• 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry
• ONLY THE BRAVE Official Movie Site
• The Official Website for upcoming movie LITTLE IRON MEN about the 442nd's rescue of the Lost Battalion
• Hawaii Star Bulletin article on Hawaii Statehood passage