Fighting+Nisei



=//**__The Fighting Nisei__**//= By: //Steven Soto//

During the time of World War Two, the was a generallized group called the fighting nisei. These were Nisei in the japanese ancestry. Nisei are second generation japanese. They were heros in many battles in WWII. Most of the fighters were from Hawaii and the western side of the U.S. It's ironic, Japan was one of our foes during the wars. There where many reasons why they were fighting, but one thing was clear. They were U.S citizens and if they were to have a future here, they were to show there loyalty. That's what they did!!!

=__The 442nd Combat Regiment Team__=

One of the fighting teams was the 442nd Combat Regiment. They had alot of hardships over time but they made it through. In 1943, the Japanese were allowed to enlist in armed forces. In Hawaii, 9,500 voluntered and 2,700 were acepted. Over all in the regiment, over 17,000 of them fought. In 1944, they left to fight in Europe. Once that campain ended, they left to Naples, Italy and fought with the 100th Battalion to become the 1st Battalion untied. They were able to keep there name though, because of all there decorations (medals). Once that campain ended, they dettached thier anti-tank company in an airborne strike on Lemuy, France. It was a success. They reattached to the unit and then the entire 442nd went to France and fought many bloody battles. There most famous battle was the rescue of the "Lost Battalion". The 1st Battalion of the 141st Infantry (Texas Unit) was surrounded and was also running out of supplies and ammunition. The 442nd Regiment was ordered to save them, and it took them four days to do so. They suffered 800 casualities! All in all, the 442nd fought eight major campains in Italy, France, and Germany.



=__The 100th Battalon__=

The 442nd Combat Regiment team wasn't the only Japanese Nisei team out there. The [|100th Battalion] was another. The first time they entered in combat was in north Africa. After that, they entered Italy were they experienced extreme heavy fighting. One of thier greatest battles was the attack on Monte Cassino defened by the German 1st Parachte Regiment. The 100th had tons of casualities. After 5 months in combat, 1,300 men of that unit had been reduced to 521 men! While the 100th was in combat, the 442nd was just completing training. In 1944, they arrived in Italy and helped and was add to the unit as the 1st Battalion. Yet they were allowed to keep thier name since they were so decorated aswell.

=__Unit Decorations__=

The 442nd Combat Regiment and the 100th Battalion were the most decorated units in the entire war!

[These were [|decorations] of the 100th battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.]
 * || **Decorations - 100th Infantry Battalion and The 442nd RCT** ||
 * 8 || Major campaigns in Europe ||
 * 7 || Presidential Unit Citations ||
 * 9,486 || Casualties (Purple Hearts) ||
 * 18,143 || Individual decorations including: ||
 * 20 || Congressional Medals of Honor ||
 * 52 || Distinguished Service Crosses ||
 * 1 || Distinguished Service Medal ||
 * 560 || Silver Stars, with 28 Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of second ||
 * [[image:http://www.njahs.org/images/clear.gif width="1" height="1" align="center"]] || **Silver Star Awards** ||
 * 22 || Legion of Merit Medals ||
 * 4,000 || Bronze Stars ||
 * 1,200 || Oak Leaf Clusters representing second ||
 * [[image:http://www.njahs.org/images/clear.gif width="1" height="1" align="center"]] || **Bronze Stars** ||
 * 15 || Soldier's Medals ||
 * 12 || French Croix de Guerre with two Palms representing second awards ||
 * 2 || Italian Crosses for Military Merit ||
 * 2 || Italian Medals for Military Valor ||

Only one member of the 100th/442nd got the Medal of Honnor! There were questional thoughts about it so, 20 men were awarded again with Medals of Honnor in June 21, 2000. It was generally agreed they were denied the Medal of Honor during the war because they were Japanese.

=**//__Today......__//**=

The lineage and honnor of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is today carried on in the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. The battalion is assigned to the 9th Rigional Support Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii!

To see more pictures and information click [|here!]



=__Resources:__=

- Byrne, Joe. "The 442nd Regiment Combat Team ." __Asian Americans Santa Clara Valley__. 1999. Santa Clara University. 10 Dec 2007 http://www.scu.edu/SCU/Programs/Diversity/442nd.html.

- "The 442nd Regimenal Combat Team." Thinkquest. 11 Dec 2007 http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210341/442nd/splash442nd.htm.

- "Research on 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team." __NJAHS Nikkei Heritage__. 1991. NJAHS. 11 Dec 2007 http://www.njahs.org/research/442.html.

- Kat, Aunty. "WWII - 100th/442nd." __Hawaii School Reports__. 1996-2003. OhanaNet. 12 Dec 2007 http://www.hawaiischoolreports.com/history/nisei.htm.

- Allen, Thomas. __Remember Pearl Harbor__. Washington, D.C: National Geographic, 2001.

- Marshman, Dr. Michelle. "Go For Broke The All Japanese American 442nd Infantry Regiment." __White River Journal__ Jan 2006 11 Dec 2007 [|http://www.wrvmuseum.org/journal/journal_0106.htm.]