before they were known as the lost battalion 1st battalion was part of the
36th Infantry Division fighting in Europe during World War two
after a bungled strategic decision sent them deep into German territory in
southern France the battalion was surrounded for six days the 275 soldiers
remained trapped from dwindling air-dropped supplies as the Germans
threatened to wipe them out and repelled repeated rescue attempts on the ground
Hitler himself is said to have taken a personal interest and seeing the
battalion completely destroyed in a last-ditch effort the 442nd Regimental
Combat Team was sent in to break through the staunch German defenses it would pay
a steep price to come out the other side as they emerged to find a lost battalion
it may have been to some a remarkable site especially in the European theater
of war 442nd was a segregated unit composed almost entirely of
second-generation Japanese Americans
after much debate between us scholars and investigators japanese-americans
were deemed patriotic enough to enlist during the post Pearl Harbor xenophobia
yet Japanese endless deeds were still treated as potential spies for their
country of origin in February of 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt issued
executive order 906 six authorizing the relocation of Japanese German and
Italian Americans to internment camps tragically their homes their positions
and even their businesses were confiscated during the US government's
witch-hunt move was in part a response to fears of espionage the measure was
also tied up in the humiliation and fear Americans felt after Pearl Harbor and
the subsequent string of Japanese victories in the Pacific
japanese-americans bore the brunt of the incarceration with 120,000 people locked
up 11,000 German Americans suffered the same fate many among them were what's
known in japan as lycée noting citizens of Japanese heritage native-born to the
United States a portion of those Nisei made up most of the 442nd Regimental
Combat Team this Infantry Regiment fought primarily in the European theater
yet even as they fought for the flag overseas their families were not immune
to internment many of the news they saw what was asked of them in Europe as a
lesser of two evils back home they may have joined their families in camps the
majority of Nisei had family members serving their wartime and internment
camps still japanese-americans distinguished themselves in service
bringing honor to their country and especially their patriotic families even
though they only comprised three units
under the motto go for broke the Nisei Regiment became the most decorated unit
of its size in the history of the United States military activated in February
1943 they had 4,000 men by April in total 14,000 men served as part of the
unit collectedly this regiment would go on to win 18,000 awards over two years
including 4,000 bronze medals and 9,000 486 Purple Hearts the group also
received eight Presidential Unit Citations 21 of its members received
medals of honor the most prestigious military decoration in the United States
Army in 2010 surviving members from the regiment were collectively awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal two years later surviving veterans were honored as part
of their induction into the French Legion d'Honneur
this Legion recognized their contribution to the liberation of France
and their courageous service in rescuing the lost battalion
the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard better known as the lost
battalion was deployed to southeastern France where the Vosges mountains
bordered Germany the division arrived from heavy fighting in Salerno Italy
where they were nearly overrun by Panzer tanks before reassignment to France they
have suffered significant casualties crossing the rapido River in the middle
of January as 1944 drew to an end the battalion did their best to repel
German attacks while trying to secure the frigid woods along the French border
the situation grew worse after Major General John Adel Quist used his regimen
to attack Germans even against his senior officers recommendations his
ill-conceived plan puts servicemen 5 miles into German territory with the
intent to cut supply lines the mission was doomed from the start
not only in the depths of hostile territory but also battling terrain and
weather conditions threatened the regiment's success worst of all the
conditions in the Vosges mountains were treacherous the forests were dense
craggy and wet with rainfall and the air was under a constant fog with visibility
at only 10 feet
by October 23rd they in advance despite these impossible
circumstances now they were primed to attack at first the German Army's
response was slow still things soon turned dangerous once they discovered
the American regiment had no rear as recalled by Staff Sergeant Jack Wilson
quote no one was following us the Germans attacked forcefully from the
rear cutting off the first battalion from the rest of the allied world 275
men were stranded surrounded at least 700 German soldiers circled
them from here on out the 1st battalion would simply be known as the lost
battalion the following three days on numerous efforts by the texts and
regiments battalions to search and rescue the stranded battalion still they
were unable to cut their way through enemy lines the Germans were simply more
prepared for the fight the lost battalion carried only enough supplies
for one day they were hungry and quickly running out of ammunition the only thing
in their favor was their specific location they had the narrow advantage
of high ground and slightly better visibility situated as they were at the
crest of a mountain they dug foxholes in muddy soil to use discover they did
their best to fight back but mostly hid from gunfire and dodge debris from
ordered trees American pilots braved rain and fog to drop rations for the
stranded battalion including water purification pills and some though only
a few clips of ammo to keep them in the fight still the situation was dire
reportedly Hitler orders his army to destroy the lost battalion swiftly he
concerned himself little with the human cost
hope came on October 27th when Major General John adult quest ordered the
442nd Regimental Combat Team to rescue the lost battalion by the time of their
assignment to France and thus a team had already gained a reputation for being
extraordinary fighters still rescuing the American soldiers would be difficult
in large part to did the Germans weather not to mention their perfect defensive
positions it was considered a suicide mission
historians later criticized the action for it's inadequate cost risk assessment
but also was a prime example of military racism the Nisei soldiers were seen as
more expendable than their white counterparts
there's the 442nd regiment deployed the lost battalion became increasingly
desperate fifty soldiers began considering a risky breakout attempt
their industry failed only five soldiers returned
pilot started nearly impossible to continue providing supplies due to the
intense cloud cover soldiers were left with muddy water and scarce food by
nightfall the cold threatened their survival more
than anything their small parameter was always under attack the rest of the army
tried sending supplies by way of artillery shells the Texans didn't
receive most of these many accidentally landed on the German side for the Nisei
soldiers the journey was equally brutal trekking through rain and mud for nearly
six days and when they were battling conditions they fought German to close
range he started with 3000 men and lost 200
while another 800 were severely wounded the casualties mounted so fast rear line
cooks were soon given guns the 442nd regiment marched up and down mountains
and hills in search German snipers and machine guns stormed minefields lay
everywhere the regiment faced intense shelling as they moved further into the
belly of the beast each step threatened to kill them it started staying in place
battlefield advance hinged on their heroism for example private Barney had
Jareau charged a hundred yards down hill
single-handedly taking up two machine-gun nests and two snipers it was
only stopped after four bullets even though it's failed to take him he
later recalled the moment quote I didn't think about dying private George
saakitto cried out after witnessing his friend subbu Tottenham ashishot enraged
he charged ravaging 12 foxholes and capture and four Germans the rest of the
team was inspired and in a human wave overwhelmed the enemy sergeant shiro
casino known to his men as cash led from the front volunteering to steal
desperately needed rations from the germans unfortunately of his 12 men
undertaking the selfless mission none returned cash were shot twice as soon as
he received stints at an aid station he demanded to rejoin his men in battle at
the end of the war he had garnished six purple hearts once they reached the
Texan battalion they had suffered considerable losses 20% of their
soldiers were wounded captured or missing still they had accomplished
their mission according to lore of the first Nisei soldiers to arrive one
simply walked up to lieutenant Marty Hagan to the lost battalion
and offered him the Lucky Strike after a grueling week of desperation
they'd been rescued from certain doom
of the 211 Texans that survived each remain grateful after all the dangerous
rescue mission cost the 442nd a total of 800 men many lycée veterans went on to
resent that participation in what was basically an army approved suicide
mission even lost battalion leader lieutenant
Marty Higgins later confessed quote no one will ever be able to convince me
that the men killed and wounded in our rescue can be justified we should have
been bypassed succeeding against all the odds japanese-american soldiers brought
pride to their nation but more importantly their suffering immigrant
community but the Nisa demonstrated most of all was outstanding bravery in the
face of World War two his horrors
the Nisei regiment returned to America welcomed by President Truman's words
quote you have fought not only the enemy you have fought prejudice and you have
won keep up that fight and we will continue to win to make this great
Republic stand for just what the Constitution says it stands for the
welfare of all the people all the time
due to their ethnicity many of the 442nd regiment Combat Team members received
lesser medals and honors than they should have President Bill Clinton later
upgraded the military awards stating that quote rarely has a nation been so
well served by a people so ill treated
for the more Texas Governor John Connally made all surviving members of
the 442nd regiment and first Battalion honorary Texans as a show of gratitude
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