442nd Regimental Combat Team

During the summer of 1944 my father was put in charge of a Nisei training platoon in the IRTC at Ft. McClellan. They were all from Hawaii. When they got off the train they formed up and their leader announced that they were going to break all of the records. They did break some records, and Dad was so impressed with them that later, at a Seventh Army replacement depot in France, he requested to be assigned to the 442nd. The request was denied because that unit was no longer accepting non-Nisei replacement officers.

In the photo below, the first row is the training cadre. My father is fifth from the left. The rest of the men are all Nisei.

View attachment 17205

 

My favorite line from the above news link:

May it always be so.

 

The attached monograph was writen by a platoon leader from the 442nd. It covers his experience with the unit in the Vosges, including the relief of the Lost Battalion.

 

Maps for the Porter monograph. St Die is just east off the Bruyeres map.

 

These mountain battles are ideal for mapping with Google terrain maps (see attached). I had to make some guesses where the text was not clear. Also, I could not clearly identify Hill 617 that the 2d Bn took on the way to the "Lost Battalion".

Google satellite provides additional insight into the terrain.

 

Thanks for the maps. There is a monument at the site of the Lost Battalion's position, which can be viewed on Google Earth. It's just north of La Houssiere.

Panoramio - Photos of the World

Translated into english (by me, so caveat emptor), it says:

"Here, valiant American combattants of the 36th Texas Division died heroically for the liberation of our soil

100th Inf. Battalion Hawaii
of the 442nd Line Regiment

1st Infantry Battalion
of the 141st Combat Regiment

October 1944"

 

On my recent visit to Kuaui, HI, USA. I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Jack Hada an Armorer from the 100th BN, 442nd RCT. We were at the Kuaui coffee plantation where he was out with two lady friends. He is 94 and still sharp as a tack. We shared a few stories and he was very enthused that we knew of the stories of he and his comrades and their stellar accomplishments. He was so humble and happy that he saluted me - gosh what an honor. Fortunately for me he was wearing his 100th Battalion hat or I might have missed this wonderful opportunity. My cover was in the car but I saluted him with my best Naval Salute several times.

We talked about the Lost Battalion in the Vosges Mountains. He would haul ammo and food up the mountain on mules (3). It was so dark, I have read this in other accounts, in the forest he had to hang on to the mule's tail since their night vision was so good. He lives in Waimea Canyon on one of the most beautiful places on earth for which I am happy. These men deserve to lead their lives in such places. The ladies make sure he gets out someplace nice once a week. There is a Toshio Hada in the phone book and I will call and try to get his address for correspondence. What a nice man.

He mentioned that in CA in 1941-1945 all of the Chinese on the West Coast wore name badges that clearly spelled out that their family name and their Chinese descent. Mr. Hada was refused service one time because the Chinese owner was afraid his restaurant would be blacklisted for serving a non-Chinese Asia person. It took him many years to find out why this had ocurred. He laughs about it today.

https://www.google.com/search?q=442nd+regiment&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pn-7UZ7hEobkyQGwioFA&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=935#facrc=_&imgrc=Qzek_TUIABXT1M%3A%3Bq5wbtuF_R1YXAM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.the442.org%252Fimages%252F271_442nd_Combat_Team_Cover1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.the442.org%252Fbattlehistory.html%3B271%3B394

"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

http://www.the442.org/

The Combat was very tough on them in the Italian Appenine Campaign as well.

 

What a stroke of good fortune, Rick. And what an incredible honor to be able to meet Mr. Hada. It couldn't have happened in a much better locale either.