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)
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442nd Regimental Combat Team (3011)

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img Nisei soldier on the front lines (ddr-densho-114-36)

Original caption: Japanese-American soldier armed with a bazooka, stands guard in the woods near the front lines, he is being relieved by a member of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, H Co., St. Die Area, France. 17 Nov 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-36/

img Switchboard operator (ddr-densho-114-66)

Original caption: T/5 Thomas N. Goto, Paauilo, Hawaii, switching central operator, shown at a forward C.P., is ready to go on duty while other operators catch up on their sleep. American-born Japanese composing the 442nd Inf. Regt., 34th Div., have established an outstanding fighting record with the International Fifth Army - educated in West Coast schools, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-66/

img Basic training (ddr-densho-114-169)

Basic training at Camp Shelby. Nisei soldiers throwing fragmentation grenades.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-169/

img Nisei soldier (ddr-densho-114-49)

Original caption: Castrellina Sector, Italy. At a forward Command Post, Pfc. Bob T. Nakamura of Oahu, Hawaii, 442nd Inf. Regt., 34th Division, makes sure that he will not loose his laundry by hanging it on a jeep. U.S. Fifth Army. 12 July 1944. [The correct spelling of the location is Castellina.]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-49/

img Working at the Regimental Command Post (ddr-densho-114-62)

Original caption: PREPARATION FOR PARADE OF 442nd COMBAT TEAM (JAPANESE AMERICAN TROOPS) TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C., 15 July 1946. Issuing out overseas bars at the Regimental Command Post left to right are: 1st Lt. George H. Vogt, 1446 Ridge Road, Webster, New York (Personnel Adjutant), T/Sgt. George Miki, Honolulu, T.H. (Personnel Sergeant Major), Sgt. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-62/

img Nisei soldiers on the move (ddr-densho-114-40)

Original caption: Bruyeres, France. File of Japanese-American Infantrymen moves past wooded area. 24 Oct 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-40/

img Three nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-29)

Original caption: S. Agata Di Goti, Italy. 2nd Lt. Hideo Kaichi, 2nd Lt. Yutaka K. Yoshida, and 2nd Lt. Bouo F. Tanigawa, all from the Hawaiian Islands and veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, just after they received their bars after completing the twelve-week course at the Leadership and Battle School. 14 July 1945.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-29/

img Nisei soldiers in jeep (ddr-densho-114-99)

Original caption: A group of five Hawaiian-American soldiers of the 100th Inf. Bn., 442nd Inf. Regt., 34th Div., move up in the battle for Leghorn in a captured German jeep. American born Japanese composing the 442nd Inf. Regt., have established an outstanding record with the international Fifth Army - educated in West Coast schools, and numbering …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-99/

img Cannon company (ddr-densho-114-124)

Original caption: La Houssiere Area, France. Combat Team of a Cannon Company, fires from their new position in the woods. This particular Unit is composed of almost all Japanese-American troops. 442nd Infantry. 4 Nov 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-124/

img Basic training (ddr-densho-114-171)

Basic training at Camp Shelby. Firing Browning 30-Calibre heavy meachine gun.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-171/

img A mother receiving posthumous medal (ddr-densho-114-128)

Original caption: Honolulu, T.H. Mrs. Shizuko Kina receives the Silver Star Medal posthumously awarded her brother, Pfc. Tomaki Shimabukuro, during a ceremony at 1965 South King Street, Honolulu, T.H. The presentation, by Chaplain Corwin H. Olds, CPBC, is made for gallantry in action with the 2nd Bn., 442nd Reg. Combat Team, near Bruyeres, France, on October …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-128/

img Nisei couple in a cemetery (ddr-densho-105-17)

Minoru "Min" Tsubota and wife at the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Battle of Biffontaine, France. This ceremony was held at the Quequement Cemetery.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-105-17/

img Nisei soldier's Purple Heart (ddr-densho-105-20)

Purple Heart awarded Minoru Tsubota, Warrant Officer (Junior Grade), 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Combat wounded in Cerebia, Italy, Aug. 24, 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-105-20/

img Senninbari, "thousand-stitch belt" (ddr-densho-105-8)

Minoru "Min" Tsubota's mother made this senninbari in Tule Lake. It is known as a thousand-stitch belt, and was created to protect a soldier going into battle. Each of the thousand knots was sewn by a different woman. On the belt is stitched Min's Buddhist name, the traditional Buddhist chant of "Namu Amida Butsu," and a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-105-8/

img Nisei soldiers studying a map (ddr-densho-114-42)

Original caption: Studying a map of [illegible] new bivouac area at a roadside are l/r: 2nd Lt. Edward E. [illegible], Mountain Lakes, N.J., 2nd Lt. Robert H. Foote, Hebron, Conn., S/Sgt. Min Shumida, Los Angeles, Calif., and Sgt. Minoru A. Ikehara of Honolulu, T.H. 10/13/44. 2nd Bn., 442nd Combat Team, Chambois Sector. France.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-42/

img Memorial Day services (ddr-densho-114-162)

Original caption: Japanese-American soldiers of the 442nd Regiment Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, salute as the American national anthem is played at the finale of the Memorial Day services held at the front, in France. Seventh Army. 11/11/44. Fay's area, France.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-162/

img 442nd Regimental Combat Team soldiers in France (ddr-densho-114-1)

Original caption: Japanese-American troops climb into a truck as they prepare to move their bivouac area. 2nd Battalion, 442nd Combat Team, Chambois Sector. France. 10/14/44.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-1/

img Nisei soldiers standing at attention (ddr-densho-114-163)

Original caption: Two Color guards and color bearers of the Japanese-American 442nd Combat Team, stand at attention while their citations are read. They are standing on ground, in the Bruyeres Area, France, where many of their comrades fell. 12 November 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-163/

img 442nd Regimental Combat Team members running for cover in Italy (ddr-densho-114-2)

Original caption: Italy. Americans of Japanese descent, Infantrymen of the 442nd Regiment, run for cover as a German artillery shell is about to land outside the building. Fifth Army 4 April 1945.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-2/

img Nisei soldier with prisoner of war (ddr-densho-114-69)

Original caption: Breascia Area, Italy. Pvt. Akira Miyamoto, Company "C", 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, examines a German soldier at the Fifth Army enemy concentration area, near Breascia. 18 May 1945. [The correct spelling of the location in Brescia.]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-69/

img Reactivation ceremony (ddr-densho-114-78)

Original caption: Kahului, Maui. At an impressive military ceremony on the Kahului Fair Grounds, Lt. Col. Harry G. Albright, CO, 442nd Inf. Regt., congratulate: Capt. Sadami Katahara, CO, Company F, 442nd Inf. Regt., which was reactivated as an organized reserve unit. Looking on are, L. to R., Major Henry Kawano, CO, 100th Bn. and Major Lloyd …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-78/

img Two Nisei soldiers (ddr-densho-114-38)

Original caption: Pfc Robert N. Maeda, left, Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii, munches a candy bar as he waits with Pfc Lawson I. Sakai, of Grand Junction, Colo., for transportation to a new bivouac area in France. 10/14/44. 2nd Bn., 442nd Combat Team, Chambois Sector. France.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-38/

img 442nd Regimental Combat Team training (ddr-densho-114-107)

Original caption: Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Japanese-American Combat Team. At Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Americans of Japanese ancestry from California, Hawaii and other areas are undergoing intensive training as an 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-114-107/

img Nisei veteran blinded in battle (ddr-densho-114-168)

Original caption: Oahu, T.H. Pfc. Kiyoto Nakai, Japanese-American veteran of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, who was blinded in battle, sits with his seeing-eye dog, Cubby and his fiancee, Miss Miyaho Hiratoni, at the Army's North Sector General Hospital. Schofield Barracks. 10 September 1945.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-114-168/

img 442nd Regimental Combat Team training (ddr-densho-114-113)

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 an 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-114-113/