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 (215)
Military service (1097)
442nd Regimental Combat Team (1906)

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1906 items

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 102, No. 15 (April 18, 1986) (ddr-pc-58-15)

Selected article titles: "Nikkei City Council Candidates Say They Were Smeared by Opponents" (pp. 1, 12), "Mother Bids Final Farewell to Soldier" (p. 2), "East Wind: Some Musings from Japan" (p. 4), and "Accept Us for Ourselves" (p. 5).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-58-15/

doc Tribute paid Nisei missing in action (ddr-csujad-49-240)

Newspaper clipping on Nisei from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team paying tribute to those missing action with a tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. An item from: pages 116-117 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_073_02

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-240/

doc Nisei combat unit has highest I.Q. in U.S. Army, says writer (ddr-csujad-49-178)

Newspaper article about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team titled, "Nisei Combat Unit Has Highest I.Q. in the U.S. Army, Says Writer." An item from: pages 94-95 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_061_01

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-178/

doc Jap-American unit in Italy cited by clark; Nisei Regiment receives banner of honor (ddr-csujad-49-185)

Newspaper articles from July 1946 about the honors and accolades of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Items from: pages 96-97 of the Sue Kato scrapbook (gfb_skc_001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2019_002_001_062_01

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-49-185/

doc 442nd Regimental Combat Team memorial speech (ddr-csujad-55-2461)

Speech given by Governor of California Pete Wilson at a ceremony recognizing the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's heroic service during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2567

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2461/

doc Memorial Tech. Sgt. George Z. Akiyama Company F, 442nd R. C. T. (ddr-csujad-55-79)

Funeral program for Technical Sergeant George Z. Akiyama, Company F, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who was killed in action on July 3, 1944 in Castellino, Italy. Funeral service was organized by Nisei post 8985, V. F. W. and held at the Buddhist church in Sacramento, California. Program includes names of participants and schedule of church and …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-79/

doc Original members E. Co. (ddr-csujad-55-1281)

Handwritten list of original members of the "E. Company." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1283

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1281/

doc Proclamation (ddr-csujad-55-2462)

Proclamation for Assembly Concurrent Resolution 62 regarding the naming of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial Highway near Stockton, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2568

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2462/

doc Overseas gift packages received, 1944-45 (ddr-csujad-55-1282)

Handwritten list of gift packages received from overseas with names of recipients and a brief description of items received. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1284

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1282/

doc Letter from the Department of the Army to William I. Sakai, April 13, 1953 (ddr-csujad-55-173)

Correspondence from the Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant-General to William I. Sakai regarding Sakai's award of the Bronze Star Medal, "for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Rhineland Campaign in the European Theater of Operations, while assigned as First Sergeant, 442nd Infantry Regiment." See this object in the …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-173/

doc Obituary, Harry Fumio Madokoro (ddr-csujad-55-1830)

Posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Harry Fumio Madokoro, Private First Class, Company K, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division for extraordinary heroism in military operations. Madokoro was drafted from Poston incarceration camp and was killed in action in Italy during World War II. See this object in the California State …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1830/

doc Divine service (ddr-csujad-55-77)

Program for worship service for the 442nd Combat Team at Camp Shelby. Services were held during a visit from incarcerees from the Rohwer and Jerome incarceration camps. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00081

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-77/

doc Proclamation (ddr-csujad-55-2463)

Proclamation made during the 47th annual reunion of the 34th Infantry Division Association, including the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2569

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2463/

doc E. Company (ddr-csujad-55-1284)

Handwritten list of names of the "E. Company." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1286

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1284/

doc Personal notes of Winston I. Nakagawa (aka "Bill") (ddr-csujad-55-1280)

Personal handwritten notes covering the day-to-day operations of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, German weapons, ammunitions, tactics, and methods; and charts for various military divisions. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1282

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1280/

doc Nikkei in uniform (ddr-csujad-55-1862)

Article on Nikkei military service and Nisei who served in the armed forces and 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service during World War II. Includes photographs of individuals at Poston incarceration camp. From the Poston II Reunion Program. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1862/

doc Resolution (ddr-csujad-55-2464)

Resolution adopted by the California State Board of Equalization honoring the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team and highways dedicated to each. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2570

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2464/

doc Memorial Cpl. Tadashi Takeuchi Cp. C, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd R. C. T. (ddr-csujad-55-78)

Funeral program for Corporal Tadashi Takeuchi, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who was killed in action on October 30, 1944 in the Vosges Mountains, France. Funeral service was organized by Nisei post 8985, V. F. W. and held at the Buddhist church in Sacramento, California. Program includes names of participants and schedule of church …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-78/

doc Tribute to Mitch Miyamoto (ddr-csujad-55-2037)

Essay in recognition of the designer of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team patch, Mitch Miyamoto. Cover's Miyamoto's childhood, military career, personal life, and the design for the 442nd patch. Presented at the Association Installation Dinner. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2140

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2037/