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)

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vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 28 (ddr-manz-1-29-28)

The tension of fighting in first battle: "What am I doing here?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-28/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 26 (ddr-manz-1-29-26)

Joining the 442nd RCT in Italy as a replacement troop

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-26/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 19 (ddr-manz-1-29-19)

Joining the 442nd RCT as a replacement troop

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-19/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 31 (ddr-manz-1-29-31)

By chance, capturing a German machine gun nest

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-31/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 37 (ddr-manz-1-29-37)

Being wounded in combat

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-37/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 32 (ddr-manz-1-29-32)

Becoming separated from squad

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-32/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 36 (ddr-manz-1-29-36)

The chaos of battle: capturing German prisoners

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-36/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 42 (ddr-manz-1-29-42)

Receiving the Medal of Honor

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-42/

vh George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 38 (ddr-manz-1-29-38)

Shooting and wounding a German soldier

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-29-38/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-129-12)

Experiencing racism from fellow soldiers at Camp Shelby

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-12/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 18 (ddr-manz-1-129-18)

The uniqueness of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-18/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 13 (ddr-manz-1-129-13)

The relationship between the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-13/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 25 (ddr-manz-1-129-25)

Psychological effects of serving in World War II

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-25/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 19 (ddr-manz-1-129-19)

Emotional and psychological effects of war

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-19/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 14 (ddr-manz-1-129-14)

Mixing of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland during basic training

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-14/

vh Arthur Nishimoto Interview Segment 17 (ddr-manz-1-129-17)

First experiences with combat

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-129-17/

vh Frank Isamu Kikuchi Interview Segment 14 (ddr-manz-1-5-14)

Thoughts on the Japanese American military volunteers

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-5-14/

vh Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1007-3-8)

Observing differences between Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland during training

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-3-8/

vh Spark M. Matsunaga Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1007-3-3)

General Mark Clark's feelings towards the Japanese Americans in the 100th Battalion

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-3-3/