442nd Regimental Combat Team
Masayuki G. Shigehira, 3rd Battalion L Company
Private First Class. "Go For Broke" (Motto)
World War II lasted from September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt’s response to the attack included tightening security measures against future threats, addressing concerns about internal dangers, and increasing racial hysteria targeting the Japanese community. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 stemmed from these concerns and mandated the evacuation of people of Japanese ancestry from their homes to remote incarceration camps. Before moving into the camps, the Japanese community was told to bring only what they could carry. The relocation order left little time for families to liquidate assets, and non-Japanese Americans seeking to profit took advantage of the crisis by buying homes, businesses, and farms at prices far below market value. Executive Order 9066 profoundly disrupted the lives of Japanese Americans due to the government’s disregard for their citizenship and anti-Asian prejudice. The highly decorated, Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team offers some unique lessons in American history.
The 442nd RCT joined the war effort late, officially forming in 1943, four years after the war started and two years before it ended in 1945. This segregated unit, primarily composed of Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans), numbered around 18,000 men, including the 100th Infantry Battalion, an Asian unit from Hawaii. Several interconnected factors explain the unusual origin story of the 442nd RCT. First, the group was formed in response to the government's racial suspicions and refusal to accept that Japanese Americans could be loyal citizens. The war revived anti-Asian sentiments at home, fueling doubts about Japanese Americans' dedication to the country. Such prejudiced attitudes influenced plans to survey incarcerated Japanese Americans to assess their loyalty. Second, unjust racial profiling through Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 targeted only those of Japanese ancestry. Third, despite the racial hysteria and accusations of being an internal threat, the 442nd RCT consisted of Japanese men willing to risk their lives to prove their loyalty to a country that, at the same time, distrusted and confined them and their families behind barbed wire in military-guarded incarceration camps.
In battle, the 442nd RCT showed undeniable courage and bravery, challenging accusations of Japanese disloyalty and breaking racial stereotypes of fellow Americans, including the government. From tough campaigns in Europe to fierce hand-to-hand combat, these soldiers proved their skills, resilience, and perseverance. Among their many important battles, several stand out because of the extremely high stakes and danger involved.
One notable campaign was the rescue of the 1stLost Battalion of the 141st Texas Regiment. In October 1944, the 442nd RCT was sent on what seemed like an impossible mission. They were tasked with rescuing the 1st Lost Battalion, trapped in the mountains of France amid harsh weather and rugged terrain. With supplies running low and surrounded by German soldiers, the survival of the 141st was at great risk. Before reaching the Lost Battalion, the 442nd had already endured nearly a week of intense fighting in thick fog, mud, and freezing cold. For the 442nd, the mission must have felt desperate, especially given their exhaustion from a recent battle. The rescue occurred in bitterly cold conditions. The 442nd dug in and succeeded, rescuing 211 men out of the 275 men of the 141st Texas Regiment. However, the victory came at a high cost. According to multiple sources, the 442nd RCT casualties ranged from 400 to 800 soldiers. What remains clear is the consistently exceptional performance of the 442nd RCT in a war that repeatedly pushed them to the brink.
Yet, the 442nd RCT earned more honors and medals than any other unit “for its size and length of service” in American military history. By the end of the war, nearly 700 of the 442ndhad been killed in action, over 3700 had been wounded or injured, and 67 had been captured or were missing. They received 21 Medals of Honor, 8 Presidential Unit Citations, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, over 500 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, over 9000 Purple Hearts, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, and 15 Soldiers Medals.
The exemplary contributions of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team offer valuable lessons about democracy, military history, race, and resistance.
Mr. Shigehira's family internment location was Rohwer, AR
Resources:
Go For Broke National Education Center
Densho.org
Densho Encyclopedia
https://encyclopedia.densho.org/
Nisei Veterans Legacy
https://www.nvlchawaii.org/442nd-regimental-combat-team/
Japanese American National Museum
National WWII Museum
