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 (277)
Military service (4131)
442nd Regimental Combat Team (3404)

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3404 items

img Soldier (ddr-densho-368-514)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-514/

img Soldier leaning against piller (ddr-densho-368-231)

Soldier of 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Written on front: To Bill/Your Pal/Yosh Oshiki/1944/France

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-231/

doc Letter to Bill Iino from Suzanne Baume (ddr-densho-368-833)

Transcription Provided

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-368-833/

doc Crossroads Vol. IV, No. 17 (September 21, 1951) (ddr-densho-507-2)

Selected article titles: “Just Browsing” (p. 2), “Profile” (p. 3), “Society” (p. 4), “Social Silhouettes” (p. 5), “Club Notes” (p. 6), “Church Notices” (p. 6), “Sports” (p. 7), “Professional Directory” (p. 8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-507-2/

doc Crossroads Vol. V, No. 16 (September 12, 1952) (ddr-densho-507-3)

Selected article titles: “One Issei’s Opinion” (p. 2, 8), “Th Nisei Seek Election” (p. 3), “Society” (p. 4), “Club Notes” (p. 6), “Church Notices” (p. 6), “Sports” (p. 7), “Professional Directory” (p. 8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-507-3/

doc Nisei Vue Vol. 1 No. 2 (Summer, 1948) (ddr-densho-266-2)

Selected article titles: "Fukui Earthquake" (p. 5), "Canada Story" (p. 9), "Kawakita Case" (p. 13), United Veterans of Fresno (p. 16), Vanport Flood (p. 19), Good News from Washington (p. 21), The Unified Nisei Vote (p. 22), The Jacl Queen Contest (p. 23), Lilli Ann Oka (p. 28), Nisei Heroes Buried at Oka (p. 30), Care …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-266-2/

doc Letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-428)

Updates on the pregnancy, her father's plans, camp rumors that the 442nd was planning to volunteer to fight the Japanese, possibility of accessing Henri's frozen bank account

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-428/

av Interview with Howe Hanamura in Italy (ddr-ajah-6-315)

Interview with Howe Hanamura on Mount Folgorito, Italy (near Massa-Carrara), site of the Battle for the Gothic Line. Part of the 1995 documentary Honor Bound: A Personal Journey.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-315/

av Archival footage of World War II (1 of 2) (ddr-ajah-6-322)

Selected footage from the National Archives of the World War II Japanese American incarceration. Truman awarding the 442nd Regimental Combat Team medals, the 442nd ariving home in 1945, and Japanese American soldiers training. Part of the 1995 documentary Honor Bound: A Personal Journey.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-322/

av Archival footage of World War II (2 of 2) (ddr-ajah-6-323)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-323/

av Kash: The Legend and Legacy of Shiro Kashino (ddr-densho-1024-11)

Feature length documentary film by Vince Matsudaira that tells the story of Shiro "Kash" Kashino (1922–97), a decorated combat veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team , whose legacy had been tarnished by a court-martial stemming from a fight while in France. See this item in the Densho Resource Guide at: Kash: The Legend and Legacy …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-11/

av Go For Broke (ddr-densho-1024-56)

See this item in the Digital Library of the Japanese American Incarceration Films at: https://archive.org/details/cubanc_000163.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-56/

av Archival Footage of Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd RCT and 100th Battalion (ddr-densho-1024-15)

See this item in the Digital Library of the Japanese American Incarceration Films at: https://archive.org/details/ajahp-VT_208.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-15/

av Voices Behind Barbed Wire (O'ahu Version) (ddr-densho-1024-43)

Short film that tells the story of Japanese Americans on O'ahu who were interned during World War II using a combination of contemporary interviews, historical photographs and footage, and historical reenactments. It is one of a series of four films produced by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i about the internment experience in each of the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-43/

av Yankee Samurai (ddr-densho-1024-44)

Israeli produced film on the exploits of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team told through archival footage, interviews, and contemporary footage of battle locations, including scenes of veterans returning to the Vosges Mountains in France for the unveiling of a monument. See this item in the Densho Resource Guide at: Yankee Samurai. See this item in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-44/

av Go for Broke! (ddr-densho-1024-59)

1951 feature film that tells the story of 442nd Regimental Combat Team and that climaxes with the rescue of the "Lost Battalion." A popular and critical success, Go For Broke! represents a landmark in the representation of Japanese Americans in Hollywood films. The film focuses on the transformation of the initially bigoted Lt. Michael Grayson (played …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-59/

av Challenge to Democracy (Japanese Internment) (ddr-densho-1024-18)

See this item in the Digital Library of the Japanese American Incarceration Films at: https://archive.org/details/youtube-6RVMlu8nyWg.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-18/

av Honor Bound: A Personal Journey (ddr-densho-1024-24)

Documentary film that tells the story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team through the story of one soldier, Haruo Howard "Howe" Hanamura, and his daughter, television reporter Wendy Hanamura, who travel to Europe in October 1994 for 50th anniversary ceremonies of the liberation of Bruyeres and Biffontaine by the 442nd. The film was produced by the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-24/

doc An Oral History with Mitsuo Nitta (ddr-csujad-29-4)

Oral history with Nisei farmer/businessman from pioneering Orange County, California family gives prewar biographical information with emphasis on Japanese Americans in Orange County. Discusses World War II forced removal, experiences in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the role of the Japanese American Citizens League before and after World War II. This oral history was conducted …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-4/

img Nisei soldiers visiting Rome (ddr-densho-164-12)

Nisei soldier's caption: "Arch of Rome. The war bypassed this city, it being declared an open city." Arch in photograph is most likely the Porte d'Aix arch in Marseilles, France.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-164-12/