Between 1860 and 1920, more than 400,000 Japanese immigrants (Issei) settled in the Hawaiian Territory and the U.S. West Coast, most working as farmers and fishermen. Due primarily to racial tensions, in 1924, Congress passed the Asian Exclusion Act, which banned further Asian immigration to the United States and denied citizenship for those already here. The Act was focused on limiting Japanese immigration, much as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 had limited Chinese immigration.

In the decades before World War II, Japanese immigrants were productive members of the American economy and society, raising families and operating small businesses.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced transport to “relocation centers” of persons, mainly on the West Coast, deemed a threat to national security. About 112,000 Japanese-Americans were transported to internment camps, and almost 65% of those were already American citizens. FDR claimed he was protecting this ethnic group, moving them for their own good, but the real reason was concern for Japanese “fifth column” sympathizers who might impede American defenses in the event of an attempted Japanese West Coast invasion.

The property of those “relocated” was often taken or sold for pennies on the dollar. By today’s standards, this violation of fundamental human rights and failure to protect personal property is rightly viewed as abhorrent, but at the time, it was considered a national security necessity. It is not sufficient to judge the actions then apart from the historical context. FDR’s relocation efforts were upheld by the Supreme Court in 1944.

A year after FDR signed EO 9066, the concerns about a Japanese “fifth column” had subsided. In March 1943, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was organized at the War Department’s request, composed almost entirely of segregated Americans of Japanese descent. More than 12,000 Nisei or Sansei (second- or third-generation Japanese-Americans) immediately volunteered to serve, most to prove their loyalty to America. Initially, approximately 4,100 volunteers were selected from internment camps in the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, and there were internal tensions between those two groups that created unit cohesion issues.

Once stood up, the 442nd RCT included the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 232nd Combat Engineer Company, 206th Army Ground Forces Band, an Antitank Company, Cannon Company, Service Company, a medical detachment, and three infantry battalions. Many were assembled for training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

The 442nd’s motto was “Go For Broke,” and they did.

Eventually, more than 18,000 men would serve in the 442nd and its companion unit, the 100th Infantry Battalion. The 100th was composed mainly of Japanese from Hawaii, and the unit’s motto was “Remember Pearl Harbor,” a clear projection of loyalty to the U.S.

These units served in North Africa and the Italian campaign in brutal battles against NAZI strongholds. They also served during the invasion of Southern France to liberate French cities and fought with segregated Black American units from the 92nd Infantry Division. Of the 1,300 men of the 100th who deployed to Italy in September 1943, only 521 remained by March 1944, and the heavy casualty rate earned them the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion.”

Notably, in October 1944, the 442nd was tasked with rescuing the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division — the “Lost Battalion,” which had been surrounded and entrapped by Germans in the Vosges mountains of Eastern France, near its border with Germany. In five days of battle, the 442nd broke through German defenses and rescued 211 of the 141st’s men, but the rescue came at a heavy cost of over 800 casualties.

Remarkably, in less than two years of service, the combined units of the 442nd were among the most decorated in World War II, earning more than 4,000 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Star Medals, and 560 Silver Star Medals. The units were awarded seven Presidential Unit Citations (five in one month). In 2010, Congress approved the Congressional Gold Medal for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and associated World War II units.

Moreover, 21 of the 442nd’s members were awarded Medals of Honor for their valorous actions.

Among the most famous of those recipients was 1LT Daniel Inouye, who would later serve as a U.S. senator from Hawaii.

Inouye led assaults against the German and Italian defensive lines during the Italian campaign. He distinguished himself by “extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy.”

His Medal of Honor citation notes: “While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.”

In retrospect, other military services also greatly benefited from Japanese-American servicemen. The effectiveness of our Military Intelligence Services during Allied operations in the Pacific was significantly enhanced. As noted by Major General Charles Andrew Willoughby, General Douglas MacArthur’s chief of intelligence, “The Nisei saved countless lives and shortened the war by two years.”

At the conclusion of World War II, President Harry Truman said of our Japanese-American service personnel, “You fought not only the enemy … you fought prejudice, and you have won.”

To all those who served with the 442nd and its affiliated units: Your example of valor — American Patriots defending Liberty for all — is eternal.

“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Live your life worthy of their sacrifice.

(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

Follow Mark Alexander on X/Twitter.

---

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, honoring their oath “to support and defend” our Constitution. Pray for our Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a designated gift to support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund through Patriot Foundation Trust, or make a check payable to “NMoH Sustaining Fund” and mail it to:

Patriot Foundation Trust
PO Box 407
Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407

Thank you for supporting our nation’s premier journal of American Liberty.