The Story:
On January 28, 1943, a few weeks following Secretary McCloy's visit, the War Department announced that it was forming an all-Nisei (first generation Japanese-American) combat team: The Secretary placed a quota and called for 1,500 volunteers from Hawaii. The VVV members responded immediately asking for the VVV to be dissolved so that they could volunteer. On January 31, 1943, the VVV was disbanded and ten thousand men volunteered to serve in the 442nd RCT which was activated on February 1, 1943. The 100th Battalion served with the 442nd RCT in Europe. Well known for its gallantry, the 100th Battalion has earned the name the Purple Heart Battalion and the 442nd RCT remains, to this day, the most decorated by unit size and length of service in the history of the U.S. Army. Despite having earning 4 Presidential Unit Citations for its service during WWII, individual Soldiers were not appropriately recognized until June 21, 2000 when President Clinton presented 22 Japanese-Americans the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH) for their role in the European campaign. The reason they were denied MOH earlier was due to racism. And because it took over 55 years to publically recognized these veterans, a majority of the MOH were presently posthumously, as only 7 remained alive at the time of presentation. It is this reason that their story must be told and remembered, especially their feat to rescue the "Lost Battalion."
“On October 25, 1944,…an American battalion of the 36th Infantry Division had been cut off and trapped by German forces. This unit is most popularly known in WWII, as the “lost battalion.” The prospect of capturing or eradicating an entire US Battalion tantalized the Germans and they rushed fresh, crack troops into the region as heavy reinforcements. During that first night, it was later estimated, that approximately 700 enemy soldiers had surrounded the Lost Battalion. “
“On October 26, 1944, the 100th and the 3d Battalions remained for one more day at Belmont as the exhausted men of the 2d Battalion moved out in support of the 141st Regiment. As dawn broke the skies on Thursday, October 26th, the Lost Battalion had survived its second night on the hill; however, their would-be rescuers were still unaware that they were on a rescue mission. They did not know that the soldiers of the Lost Battalion had been under almost constant enemy artillery fire and most had not eaten in 24 hours.”
“On October 27, 1944, the two remaining 442d Battalions began to move. The 3d Battalion moved out and into the darkness of the forest. An hour later the 100th Battalion followed. Again, these Nisei did not know the reason they were being called upon to move, nor did they know that every other effort to relieve the Lost Battalion had failed. Now it would be up to a exhausted group of soldiers who had no real idea what they were being sent to accomplish, nor of the magnitude of effort that would be required.”
“On October 29, 1944, four days from when the first elements of the 442nd RCT began their march into history, for the first time the men of the 442d RCT were made aware of the fate of the Lost Battalion and their mission. With that knowledge came some understanding of the events of the previous days. For the men of the 100th who had been cut off and surrounded at Biffontaine, there was a special sense of empathy with the 36th Infantry's "Lost Battalion." This would be a 'Go for Broke' mission. At dawn the 100th and 3d Battalion launched their attack, running directly into heavy resistance supported by enemy armor. It is easy to picture the small Nisei infantrymen going head to head with multi-ton, steel tanks spitting fiery death. The brave soldiers never wavered. James Okubo, the medic who had braved enemy fire the day before to rescue 17 men continued his courageous efforts in the face of enemy fire to rescue 8 more. His actions the previous day combined with his actions on the 29th would save a total of 25 wounded Nisei. The “banzai” charge on "suicide hill" consumed an hour, an eternity for those in combat. The Nisei suffered many casualties, but by 3:30 they had taken the hill. Those enemy soldiers who had been wounded or otherwise unable to escape the hill cowered in fear before the survivors of the onslaught. After action debriefs would later the reveal the fear the Germans had at the Nisei assault. They had been totally unnerved, never had they seen such courage, such fierce determination, such sheer force of will-power in the face of unbelievable odds.”
“On October 30, 1944, it was the fifth day in the forest for the soldiers of the 442d RCT as 3d Battalion led the way. The rain that had fallen virtually every day since October 15th began to turn to snow. Time was running out for the Lost Battalion and, equally important, the 442d RCT was running out of men to send to their rescue. Shortly after 2 o'clock, what remained of the of the 442d RCT, finally broke through to the Lost Battalion. Every inch of their advance paid for in blood. Private First Class Matt Sakumoto was the point man, the first friendly face the 211 survivors of the surrounded battalion had seen in a week. As the Nisei walked past the first Texan of the Lost Battalion (T-patcher) he noticed the man's lips begin to quiver and his eyes fill with tears.”
“The 442nd, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Miller, had lost approximately three times more men (over 800 casualties) than the 211 that were eventually saved. The 442d RCT historians from the 'Go for Broke' organization recorded that 54 men were killed and that it had suffered numerous casualties (that would have broken other units) in five days of battle to rescue 211 survivors. They also note that during the entire Vosges Campaign, 34 days of almost non-stop combat - liberating Bruyeres and Biffontaine, rescuing the 211 Texans, and 9 more days of driving the Germans through the forest - the 442nd’s total casualties were 216 men dead and more than 856 wounded.” All of these men put their life’s on the line and a majority of them gave their lives to save another, yet they couldn’t have been recognized during that time period because of “political issues” and questioning the Japanese-American faith.
In conclusion, it seems ironic that a country founded by people who originally fled a homeland to avoid persecution and so that they could practice their religion freely would succumb to the same dangers of prejudice and discrimination. In my research, I learned that the majority of Americans during WWII were fearful of Americans who had Japanese ancestry and that we interned over 110,000. Moreover, I learned that the Japanese-Americans rose above adversity and that about 33,000 joined the Army Forces to serve our nation. I learned that while some were initially drafted before we entered the war due to a peace-time draft, many volunteered to serve in the HTG to include those who were enrolled in the UH ROTC Program. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the general consensus that Americans distrusted the Nisei, the cadets who were dismissed from the HTG formed the VVV who along with the achievements of the 100th Battalion paved the way for the 442nd RCT to be activated. Although its creation demonstrated American's mistrust of those with Japanese descent, this unit proved Japanese-Americans were not only loyal but were phenomenally disciplined and could achieve anything. I believe President Clinton's words best sum up what happened: "Rarely has a nation been so well-served by a people who it ill-treated."
“On October 25, 1944,…an American battalion of the 36th Infantry Division had been cut off and trapped by German forces. This unit is most popularly known in WWII, as the “lost battalion.” The prospect of capturing or eradicating an entire US Battalion tantalized the Germans and they rushed fresh, crack troops into the region as heavy reinforcements. During that first night, it was later estimated, that approximately 700 enemy soldiers had surrounded the Lost Battalion. “
“On October 26, 1944, the 100th and the 3d Battalions remained for one more day at Belmont as the exhausted men of the 2d Battalion moved out in support of the 141st Regiment. As dawn broke the skies on Thursday, October 26th, the Lost Battalion had survived its second night on the hill; however, their would-be rescuers were still unaware that they were on a rescue mission. They did not know that the soldiers of the Lost Battalion had been under almost constant enemy artillery fire and most had not eaten in 24 hours.”
“On October 27, 1944, the two remaining 442d Battalions began to move. The 3d Battalion moved out and into the darkness of the forest. An hour later the 100th Battalion followed. Again, these Nisei did not know the reason they were being called upon to move, nor did they know that every other effort to relieve the Lost Battalion had failed. Now it would be up to a exhausted group of soldiers who had no real idea what they were being sent to accomplish, nor of the magnitude of effort that would be required.”
“On October 29, 1944, four days from when the first elements of the 442nd RCT began their march into history, for the first time the men of the 442d RCT were made aware of the fate of the Lost Battalion and their mission. With that knowledge came some understanding of the events of the previous days. For the men of the 100th who had been cut off and surrounded at Biffontaine, there was a special sense of empathy with the 36th Infantry's "Lost Battalion." This would be a 'Go for Broke' mission. At dawn the 100th and 3d Battalion launched their attack, running directly into heavy resistance supported by enemy armor. It is easy to picture the small Nisei infantrymen going head to head with multi-ton, steel tanks spitting fiery death. The brave soldiers never wavered. James Okubo, the medic who had braved enemy fire the day before to rescue 17 men continued his courageous efforts in the face of enemy fire to rescue 8 more. His actions the previous day combined with his actions on the 29th would save a total of 25 wounded Nisei. The “banzai” charge on "suicide hill" consumed an hour, an eternity for those in combat. The Nisei suffered many casualties, but by 3:30 they had taken the hill. Those enemy soldiers who had been wounded or otherwise unable to escape the hill cowered in fear before the survivors of the onslaught. After action debriefs would later the reveal the fear the Germans had at the Nisei assault. They had been totally unnerved, never had they seen such courage, such fierce determination, such sheer force of will-power in the face of unbelievable odds.”
“On October 30, 1944, it was the fifth day in the forest for the soldiers of the 442d RCT as 3d Battalion led the way. The rain that had fallen virtually every day since October 15th began to turn to snow. Time was running out for the Lost Battalion and, equally important, the 442d RCT was running out of men to send to their rescue. Shortly after 2 o'clock, what remained of the of the 442d RCT, finally broke through to the Lost Battalion. Every inch of their advance paid for in blood. Private First Class Matt Sakumoto was the point man, the first friendly face the 211 survivors of the surrounded battalion had seen in a week. As the Nisei walked past the first Texan of the Lost Battalion (T-patcher) he noticed the man's lips begin to quiver and his eyes fill with tears.”
“The 442nd, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Miller, had lost approximately three times more men (over 800 casualties) than the 211 that were eventually saved. The 442d RCT historians from the 'Go for Broke' organization recorded that 54 men were killed and that it had suffered numerous casualties (that would have broken other units) in five days of battle to rescue 211 survivors. They also note that during the entire Vosges Campaign, 34 days of almost non-stop combat - liberating Bruyeres and Biffontaine, rescuing the 211 Texans, and 9 more days of driving the Germans through the forest - the 442nd’s total casualties were 216 men dead and more than 856 wounded.” All of these men put their life’s on the line and a majority of them gave their lives to save another, yet they couldn’t have been recognized during that time period because of “political issues” and questioning the Japanese-American faith.
In conclusion, it seems ironic that a country founded by people who originally fled a homeland to avoid persecution and so that they could practice their religion freely would succumb to the same dangers of prejudice and discrimination. In my research, I learned that the majority of Americans during WWII were fearful of Americans who had Japanese ancestry and that we interned over 110,000. Moreover, I learned that the Japanese-Americans rose above adversity and that about 33,000 joined the Army Forces to serve our nation. I learned that while some were initially drafted before we entered the war due to a peace-time draft, many volunteered to serve in the HTG to include those who were enrolled in the UH ROTC Program. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the general consensus that Americans distrusted the Nisei, the cadets who were dismissed from the HTG formed the VVV who along with the achievements of the 100th Battalion paved the way for the 442nd RCT to be activated. Although its creation demonstrated American's mistrust of those with Japanese descent, this unit proved Japanese-Americans were not only loyal but were phenomenally disciplined and could achieve anything. I believe President Clinton's words best sum up what happened: "Rarely has a nation been so well-served by a people who it ill-treated."