The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was organized on March 23, 1943 in response to the War Department's call for volunteers to form the segregated Japanese American army combat unit. More than 12,000 Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) volunteers answered the call.

Ultimately 2,686 volunteers from Hawaii and 1,500 from U.S. internment camps assembled at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in April 1943 to undergo infantry training.

The 442nd RCT was comprised of: three infantry battalions, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 232nd Combat Engineers Company, Anti Tank Company, Cannon Company, Medical Detachment, and 206th Army Ground Forces Band. After a year of training at Camp Shelby, the 442nd was sent overseas to Italy on May 1, 1944. There it joined the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) who had preceded the 442nd by 9 months. The 100th was designated the First Battalion of the 442nd.

The 442nd was assigned to Gen. Mark Clark's 5th Army and underwent its baptism of fire at Suvereto, Italy on June 26, 1944. For the next 10 weeks, the unit engaged the German army in the mountainous Italian terrain, driving the enemy forces north to the Arno River. On August 15, 1944 the Anti Tank Company was detached from the 442nd and ordered to make an assault glider landing in the invasion of southern France.

From October through November 1944 the 442nd served in northeastern France with the 36th Infantry Division in the dark and bitter-cold forests of the Vosges Mountains. The Germans knew no invading force in history had succeeded in defeating the controlling force in the Vosges. The Germans decided to defeat the Americans in the Vosges and thereby prevent the invasion of Germany from that sector. However, the French towns of Bruyeres, Belmont and Biffontaine were liberated by the 442nd.

As it was about to be pulled back to enjoy hot meals and hot showers, the 442nd was ordered back to the front lines to rescue elements of the 1st battalion, 141st Regiment of the 36th "Texas" Division, who Hitler personally ordered be annihilated "so they don't fight on German soil." The 442nd suffered casualties two to three times the 211 who were left to be saved. The intensity of the fighting in France can be best illustrated by the number of high awards the 442nd received in slightly more than one month of combat in the Vosges: five of the seven Distinguished Unit Citations; five of 21 Medals of Honor, and nine of 29 Distinguished Service Crosses.

In late March 1945 the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion was assigned to the 7th Army, which needed the 522nd fire support in the Allied assault against Germany. While on that mission, it encountered and liberated Jewish survivors of a sub camp of the Dachau death march.

The 442nd was returned to Italy in April 1945 at the specific request of General Clark. He wanted the unit to help the 5th Army breach the German Gothic Line that had blocked the Allied advance for six months. The 442nd broke through the German defenses at Mount Folgorito in less than a day - and in the next three weeks forced the German Army to retreat north to the Po Valley, where it finally surrendered on May 2, 1945.

In just 10 months of combat against Germany, the 442nd RCT compiled a remarkable fighting record. It was achieved at a high price, however, more than 700 killed and missing in action The 442nd, including the 100th Battalion, was honored with seven Distinguished Unit Citations, more than 4,000 Purple Hearts, seven Presidential Unit Citations and a large number of individual decorations for bravery, including 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 588 Silver Stars, and more than 4,000 Bronze stars.

With its battle cry, "Go For Broke," the 442nd RCT earned the distinction of being told by Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson's personal representative o July 4, 1946 that "your combat record has not been surpassed." Subsequently, on July 15, 1946, President Harry Truman reviewed the 442nd at the outer south lawn of the White House following its march down Constitution Avenue and paid the Nisei the ultimate tribute, "you fought the enemy abroad and prejudice at home and you won". This represented the highest stamp of approval of Nisei loyalty.

Edited from Japanese Eyes, American Heart. 1998. Reprint approved by Ted Tsukiyama, Esq