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 (231)
Military service (2806)
442nd Regimental Combat Team (3011)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
442nd Regimental Combat Team, Mark W. Clark, Sadamitsu Neil Fujita, Go for Broke! (film), Stanley Hayami, Daniel Inouye, Mike Masaoka, Kazuo Masuda, Rescue of the Lost Battalion

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3011 items
Mits Takahashi Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-207-23)
vh Mits Takahashi Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-207-23)
Observing the 442nd RCT after the Battle of the Lost Battalion: "They looked like insane people"
Genro Kashiwa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-395-10)
vh Genro Kashiwa Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-395-10)
Serving in Italy and being placed in command

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-138-11)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-138-11)
First encounter with Nisei from Hawaii: overcoming the language difficulties

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-138-20)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-138-20)
Treating injuries from the front lines, replacing a medic who became "shell-shocked"

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-138-13)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-138-13)
Description of company structure, medic's role and the aid stations

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-138-12)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-138-12)
Training as a medic

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history interviews. Individually and jointly, …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-138-21)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-138-21)
Dangerous job of medics, decision to remove all outward indications of medic status

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-138-8)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-138-8)
Deciding to volunteer for the army in hopes that father would be released; feeling conflicted upon being placed in a segregated unit

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-138-25)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-138-25)
Memories of a key battle, the breaking of the Gothic Line

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-138-15)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-138-15)
Close relationships with other medics

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history interviews. Individually and …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-138-14)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-138-14)
Minimal weapons training, never having to use firearms in battle

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-138-17)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-138-17)
Landing in Europe; setting up headquarters station and aid stations as moved from place to place

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-138-26)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-138-26)
Thoughts on the camaraderie between fellow soldiers, keeping in contact many years after the war

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-138-27)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-138-27)
In retrospect, feeling more positive about the fact that the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was a segregated unit

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-138-18)
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Interactions with members of the 100th Battalion, who were much more battle experienced

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-138-24)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-138-24)
Receiving the Bronze Star

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history interviews. Individually and jointly, …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-138-23)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-138-23)
Getting hit by shrapnel in France: "a million dollar wound"

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-138-16)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-138-16)
Feeling uncomfortable when witnessing segregation in the South

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-138-10)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-138-10)
Volunteering on the last possible day, early memories of basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had …

Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-138-19)
vh Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1000-138-19)
Working as a medic at the battalion aid station: "very chaotic"

William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their …

John Kanda Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-116-8)
vh John Kanda Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-116-8)
Reflecting on wartime losses and accomplishments, including unit's seventh Presidential Citation

This interview is part of a collaborative effort of the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League and Densho.

Bill Thompson Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-90-13)
vh Bill Thompson Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-90-13)
Relations between the Hawaiian and mainland Nisei soldiers at Camp Shelby, Mississippi

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Given the full conference schedule, interviews conducted at the reunion were shorter in length than typical Densho interviews and concentrated on a single topic, namely, the …

Bill Thompson Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-90-17)
vh Bill Thompson Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-90-17)
Reflections

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Given the full conference schedule, interviews conducted at the reunion were shorter in length than typical Densho interviews and concentrated on a single topic, namely, the individual's military service during World War II.

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