Go for Broke

"They were superb! That word correctly describes it. Superb! They took terrific casualties. They showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit. Not too much can be said of the performance of those battalions in Europe and everybody wanted them...." General George C. Marshall

Cited as one of the most decorated military units in US history, the 442^nd Infantry Regiment formed in 1943 earned 21 Medals of Honor, 8 Presidential Unit Citations, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, and 9,486 Purple Hearts. This unit that began with 4,000 men saw such fierce fighting and terrible casualty rates that with replacements nearly 14,000 served in the regiment.

However, by governmental decree this exalted fighting force was only allowed to fight in the European Theatre. Why? Because the soldiers in the unit were Nisei, born here in the US to immigrant parents, Japanese parents, and so their loyalty to the US was suspect according to some military and political leaders.

Their motto: Go for Broke.

In July of ’44, the 442^nd fighting in Italy during the Rome-Arno campaign suffered 1272 casualties, battling the Germans during a 40-mile advance.

On October 13^th of the same year, the regiment began its assignment to the 36^th Infantry Division with 2943 men. Fewer than 800 remained in combat a month later after action that included the rescue of a surrounded American unit. For this performance at Biffontaine and fighting for the liberation of France, the Legion d'Honneur was awarded the 442nd.

In 1945, General Mark W. Clark wrangled with General Eisenhower over command of the 442^nd as he prepared to assault the Gothic Line, Germany’s last line of defense in the Apennines. Clark prevailed and the 442^nd spearheaded much of the assault while fighting alongside other units, including the 92^nd Infantry Division, the only segregated African-American combat unit in Europe.

After Allied troops pushed into Germany, elements of the 442^nd would be among the first of the Allies involved in the liberation of satellite prison camps around Dachau.

With the end of fighting, in May of 1945, the celebrated 442^nd returned home to the US.