442nd Regimental Combat Team
The 100th Infantry Battalion began as part of the Hawaii National Guard. On June 5, 1942, 1,432 men left Hawaii for training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and later at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 100th shipped out to North Africa on August 23, 1943, and saw heavy action in Italy. Because of its heavy casualties and many honors, the 100th became known as the "Purple Heart Battalion." The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was initially formed in 1943 from Japanese American volunteers from Hawaii and the mainland. Perhaps not surprisingly, only about 1,250 Japanese Americans volunteered from the concentration camps. In Hawaii, where there was no mass removal, almost 10,000 volunteered. The 442nd arrived in Italy in June 1944 where the battle-tested 100th Infantry Battalion became its 1st Battalion. In seven major campaigns, the 442nd became the most decorated unit for its size and length of service; the unit suffered 9,476 casualties, more than 300 percent of its original strength.
World War II
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442nd Regimental Combat Team
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3011 items
3011 items
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Leaving for reserve (ddr-densho-114-53)
Original caption: Castrellina Area, Italy. Platoon leader Lt. Charles Coyne, Boston, Mass., and Sgt. Nakoto Taguchi, Lihue Kauai, T. H., an American of Japanese descent of the 100th Inf. Bn., 442nd Regt., light up while preparing to leave for reserve after 16 days of hill fighting for Leghorn. 15 July 1944. [The correct spelling of the …
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Nisei soldier receiving the Purple Heart (ddr-densho-114-155)
Original caption: Sand Island, Honolulu. Pvt. Harry Koka of Ewa, Oahu, T.H., is awarded the Purple Heart by Col. Ernst T. Barco, CO, AP & SC. He was wounded while fighting with the famed 100th Infantry in the Italian Campaign. 6 June 1945.
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Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-59)
Original caption: Preparations are being made for a parade to be held in Washington D.C., on July 15, 1946 by the 442nd Combat Team (Japanese-American troops), temporarily stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 7-6-46. Mr. Bill Davenport of 1569 Ethel Avenue, Lincoln Park, Michigan, former company commander in the 442nd Infantry, who was discharged last month, is …
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Nisei soldier doing laundry (ddr-densho-114-20)
Original caption: Charmois Area, France. Americans of Japanese descent of the 442nd Combat Team, 100th Inf. Bn., in bivouac prepare to go into the front lines for their first contact with the Germans in France. Here Pfc. Billy S. Takaezu, 1254 Hall St., Honolulu, hangs out his laundry to dry. U.S. Seventh Army. 12 October 1944.
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Award ceremony (ddr-densho-114-67)
Original caption: Lt. Gen. Lucian K Truscott, Jr., CG, U.S. Fifth Army, salutes after fastening the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation Banner to the guidon of Co. L, 3rd Bn., 442nd Japanese-American Combat Team, at a ceremony at Leghorn, Italy. 9/4/45.
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442nd Regimental Combat Team training (ddr-densho-114-115)
Original caption: Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Japanese-American Combat Team. At Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Americans of Japanese ancestry from California, Hawaii and other areas are undergoing intensive training as an Army combat team. One group of Japanese Americans has already gone and seen action in the Mediterranean Theatre. These pictures show some of the phases of the training …
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A mother receiving posthumous award (ddr-densho-114-147)
Original caption: Honolulu, T.H. Mrs. Risaku Kanaya is presented the Silver Star Medal posthumously awarded her son, Pvt. Walter E. Kanaya, for gallantry in action near Bruyeres, France, 17 October 1944, with the 2nd Bn., 442nd Infantry, as Mr. Kanaya stands with her. Chaplain (Colonel) Corwin H. Olds, CPBC, makes the presentation at 1521 Young St., …
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Nisei soldiers in jeep (ddr-densho-114-88)
Original caption: FRANCE. A jeep mounted with a heavy machine gun battles the mud of a French road as it pulls a trailer. Japanese-American troops of the 2nd Bn. 442nd Combat Team, fight in France. 13 October 1944.
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Wounded Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-118-4)
Tosh Yasutake is at the 45th General Hospital in Napoli, Italy.
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Armistice Day ceremony (ddr-densho-114-76)
Original caption: A rifle squad of the 442nd Regiment Combat Team fires a salute in memory of their departed comrades, during Armistice Day ceremonies at the front, in France. Standing in the right foreground are (left to right) Lt. Col. James M. Hanley, Regiment Commanding Officer, and Lt. Col. Virgil R. Miller, CO, 2nd Battalion. Seventh …
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Memorial service (ddr-densho-114-82)
Original caption: U.S. Fifth Army, Cecina Area, Italy. American soldiers of Japanese descent of the 2nd Bn., 442nd Inf. Regt., bow their heads in prayer for their departed comrades who gave their lives in combat with the enemy in the area north of Rome. The memorial services are being held at the Battalion Headquarters area near …
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Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-60)
Original caption: PREPARATION FOR PARADE OF THE 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM (JAPANESE AMERICAN TROOPS) TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE 15TH JULY 1946. Color bearers polishing metal of staff are left to right: M/Sgt. Mitsuomi Tanaka, Honokaa, Hawaii, T/Sgt. Hiroshi Yamamoto, Brigham, Utah, and 1st /Sgt. Tom Harimoto, 3745 Maunaloa Ave, Honolulu. Fort Belvoir, …
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Nisei soldiers writing letters (ddr-densho-114-37)
Original caption: Charmois Area, France. Americans of Japanese descent of the 442nd Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion, in bivouac prepare to go late front lines for their first contact with the Germans in France. Tec 5 Teroo Goma, Honokaa, Hawaii; Pvt. Nolan Miyazake, Wailua, Oahu, Hawaii; and Pvt. Kunio Ogawa, Kahului, Maue, Hawaii, write letters and …
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Nisei soldier writing a letter (ddr-densho-114-39)
Original caption: Pfc. Larry Imamura, of Kehaha, Kauai, Hawaii, a Japanese-American with the 442nd Combat Team of the 100th Infantry Bn., in bivouac in the Charmois area of France, writes a letter before meeting the Germans on the front lines for the first time. U.S. Seventh Army. 10/22/44.
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Nisei captain giving medical aid (ddr-densho-114-91)
Original caption: Castrellina Sector, Italy. At an aid station in a wine cellar, Capt. J. Kimura of Berkeley, Calif., lances an infected finger for Pvt. Claude Lunn of Willsville, New York, Right, while Tec 5 George Kobayashi of Honolulu, T.H., holds a flashlight. All are of the 442nd Inf. Regt., 34th Division. U.S. Fifth Army. [The …
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442nd Regimental Combat Team training (ddr-densho-114-108)
Original caption: Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Japanese-American Combat Team. At Camp Shelby, Miss.; Americans of Japanese ancestry from California, Hawaii and other areas are undergoing intensive training as an Army combat team. One group of Japanese-Americans has already gone and seen action in the Mediterranean Theatre. These pictures show some of the phases of the training of …
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Japanese American chaplain (ddr-densho-114-109)
Original caption: Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Japanese-American Combat Team. At Camp Shelby, Miss. Americans of Japanese ancestry from California, Hawaii, and other areas are undergoing intensive training as an Army combat team. One group of Japanese-Americans has already gone and seen action in the Mediterranean Theatre. These pictures show some of the phases of the training of …
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442nd Regimental Combat Team band (ddr-densho-114-185)
Original caption: The 442nd Infantry Regiment band, the only Army musical organization whose members all are Americans of Japanese descent, plays for its regiment at a ceremony in Cecina, Italy. The band leader, M/Sgt. Jun Yamamoto, lives at 1214 Hayes St., Boise, Idaho. 7/30/44.
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Nisei soldiers moving by truck (ddr-densho-114-126)
Original caption: A line of Army trucks, loaded with 2nd Battalion Japanese-American infantrymen, moves up to a new bivouac area in the Chambois sector, in France. 10/14/44. 2nd Bn, 442nd Combat Team.
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Award ceremony (ddr-densho-114-22)
Original caption: Units of the 2nd and 3rd Bns., 442nd Japanese-American Combat Team pass in review before Lt. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., CO, U.S. Fifth Army, after he has awarded them with the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation at Yankee Stadium, Leghorn, Italy. 9/4/45.
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Nisei soldiers in formation (ddr-densho-114-111)
Original caption: Co. E. of the 442nd Inf. Regt. comprising Japanese-American lads snapped in formation. Camp Shelby, Mississippi. 5/13/1943.
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Command post on the front lines (ddr-densho-114-74)
Original caption: St. Die Area, France. A Japanese-American unit moves into a new command post which was built for them by the U.S. Army Engineers. This unit is holding a strategic front line position. Company "F", 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regiment (Combat Team). 13 Nov 1944.
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Nisei soldiers sorting confiscated goods (ddr-densho-114-23)
Original caption: Breacia Area, Italy. Confiscated material goes into a trailer which is run down a line of material at the Fifth Army Concentration Area. L to R: Pvt. George Nasuschige, Company C, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, of Poston Arizona and Pfc. Masao Irana of Company "D", 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment of Honolulu, Hawaii. …
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Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-89)
Original caption: Three Japanese-American soldiers look down on the French Valley in the Bruyere Sector of France from a hill that was under heavy morter and shell fire. Trees in foreground show the effects of the shelling. 22 Oct 1944.