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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

3011 items

doc Eric Andow interview (ddr-csujad-6-2)

Oral history interview with Eric Andow. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_ANDOW_ERIC

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-2/

doc Ruth Okuye Ihara interview (ddr-csujad-6-8)

Oral history interview with Ruth Okuye Ihara. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_IHARA_RUTH

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-8/

doc Lloyd Kurihara interview (ddr-csujad-6-15)

Oral history interview with Lloyd Kurihara. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_KURIHARA_LLOYD

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-15/

doc Mr. Kazuo Hiyama (ddr-csujad-8-22)

Oral history interview with Mr. Kazuo Hiyama. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Hiyama, Mr Kazuo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-22/

doc Gen Goto (ddr-csujad-8-15)

Oral history interview with Gen Goto. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Goto, Gen

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-15/

doc Mr. Lou Haruo Miyamoto (ddr-csujad-8-90)

A statement by Mr. Lou Haruo Miyamoto. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Miyamoto, Mr Lou Harou

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-90/

doc Sadame Yamada (ddr-csujad-8-99)

Oral history interview with Sadame Yamada. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Yamada, Sadame

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-99/

doc Momoyo Mizuki (ddr-csujad-8-91)

Oral history interview with Momoyo Mizuki. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Mizuki, Momoyo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-91/

img Nisei soldier standing guard (ddr-densho-114-45)

Original caption: S/Sgt. James S. Kawashime, a Japanese-American from Hanoa Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, stands guard for the 442nd Combat Team, 100th Infantry Bn., U.S. Seventh Army in the Charmois area of France, in bivouac before meeting the Germans in combat for the first time. 10/12/44.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-45/

img A mother receiving her son's Silver Star (ddr-densho-114-33)

Original caption: Honolulu, T. H. The Silver Star Medal is posthumously awarded Sgt. Charles K. Harada of 936 Wahikiki St., Honolulu, T. H. for gallantry in action near Castellina, Italy, 12 July 1944, with Co. G, 442nd Inf. Here the presentation has been made to his mother, Mrs. Hana Harada, by Chaplain (Col.) Corwin W. Olds, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-33/

img Nisei soldier in plane (ddr-densho-114-95)

Original caption: Castrellina Sector, Italy. S/Sgt. Arata Kimura, San Jose, Calif., 522nd Field Artillery Bn., 442nd Inf. Regt., 34th Division, observer, Left, and Cub Pilot Lt. Joseph C. Polancii, Winnsboro, LA., (Monroe Papers) confer before taking off from a forward airstrip. U.S. Fifth Army. 12 July 1944. [The correct spelling of the location is Castellina.]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-95/

img 442nd Regimental Combat Team squad leader (ddr-densho-114-4)

Original caption: St. Die Area, France. A squad leader looks for German movements in the valley 200 yards away. Snow, rain and mud make life miserable for these Japanese-American front line troops. Company "F", 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regiment (Combat Team). 13 Nov 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-4/

img Nisei soldier relaxing in barracks (ddr-densho-114-61)

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. Pfc. Roy Fujihara of 1581 Kauluwela Lane, Honolulu, relaxes in his barracks after a hard drill.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-61/

img Nisei soldier sorts German equipment (ddr-densho-114-14)

Original caption: Breacia Area, Italy. S/Sgt. George Y. Fujino, Los Angeles, Calif., of Company "C", 100th Battalion, of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, looks over German clothing and equipment at the Fifth Army enemy concentration area. 18 May 1945. [The correct spelling of the location is Brescia.]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-14/

img Nisei soldiers marching (ddr-densho-114-182)

Original caption: Vada Area, Italy. Men of Company H, 100th Inf. Bn., 442nd Regiment, U.S. Fifth Army, march through Vada to the area where Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark will present the Presidential Citation for outstanding action in combat to the 100th Inf. Bn., composed of American troops of Japanese descent. 27 July 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-182/

img Nisei soldier with orphan (ddr-densho-114-77)

Original caption: Lecco, Italy. Pfc. George Morihiro, Company "I", 442nd Infantry Regiment, adopted a little orphan, one of the group from the St. Joseph's Orphanage that attended the 4th of July Party at the Red Cross given by members of the 442nd Regiment, for the evening and made sure that she had plenty of sweets to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-77/

img Nisei soldiers on patrol (ddr-densho-114-179)

Original caption: [illegible] troops of Japanese ancestry, ride jeep patrol through the streets of Leghorn, Italy. Fifth Army, July 19, 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-179/

img A foxhole on the front lines (ddr-densho-114-125)

Original caption: St. Die Area, France. A Japanese-American soldier talks to a buddy through the observation port of a well camouflaged fox-hole. This unit, comprised of Japanese-Americans, are holding a section of the front line. Company "F", 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regiment, (Combat Team). 13 Nov 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-125/

img Nisei memorial service (ddr-densho-114-597)

This memorial service, held at the First Methodist Church, is for 442nd Regimental Combat Team soldiers killed in action in Europe.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-597/

img Parade for the President (ddr-densho-114-58)

Original caption: PREPARATION FOR THE PARADE OF THE 442nd REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM (JAPANESE AMERICAN TROOPS) TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE 15th JULY 1946. Major Sterlin C. Moore, Executive Officer of the 442nd Infantry, orienting his men as to what to expect on the Parade for the President of the United States. Major Moore's …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-58/

img Japanese American chaplain (ddr-densho-114-57)

Original caption: Japanese-American Chaplain. This newly-commissioned U.S. Army Chaplain is Lieut. Hiro Higuchi, a native of Hawaii, of Japanese parentage. He is now in training at Harvard, and is the second chaplain of Japanese ancestry to receive a commission in the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps. Higuchi is 36, married, and has a seven year old son. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-57/

img Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-127)

Original captions: France. A Japanese-American Combat Team moves through town. 23 Oct 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-127/

img Basic training (ddr-densho-114-172)

Antitank Company in training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-172/

img Anti-tank training (ddr-densho-114-84)

Original caption: Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Japanese-American soldiers in the anti-tank company of the combat team easing a gun off the bank of a stream to ferry it across on three steel cables. Swimmers in the water below will haul on a line in the water to move the gun. Lt. Charles W. Tayman, Commanding Officer of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-84/

img Basic training (ddr-densho-114-178)

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 a 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-178/