…ith the 299th Infantry Regiment of the Hawaii National Guard and was given command of M Company at Burns Field in Hanapepe, Kauai. He served as commander until December 7, 1941. In the aftermath of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Jack’s Caucasian superiors suspected him of possessing dual loyalties: to the United States and Japan, his ancestral homeland. He was demoted from commanding officer of the airfield to executive officer. The action reflec…
442nd Regimental Combat Team
…r.” Pursuant to a request by McCloy to submit a study on “the formation of combat units composed of Americans of Japanese ancestry,” on November 17, 1942, Colonel Moses Pettigrew submitted an extensive rationale which concluded with the recommendation: “That there be activated on April 15, 1943, for use in the European Theater, an infantry division with enlisted personnel composed of American citizens of Japanese ancestry.” On the same date, Colon…
Gary Uchida
…e these weapons blindfolded. Hikes into the hills with full field pack and combat packs were common. During the training period, the draftees lived in a tent city which we called Boom Town. After basic training, we were assigned to various companies of the 298th Regiment which was made up of former National Guardsmen, the earlier draftees. Our Regimental Commanding Officer was Colonel Andersen. His Executive Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Farrant…
Battle of the Home Front
…d the shootout on the docks of Hilo). Despite discrimination, the Japanese community was becoming well developed between World War I and World War II. Issei ran well-established businesses, figured prominently in early-day labor organizing, and had attained a modest level of representation in the Territorial legislature through the dominant Republican Party. Importantly for the crisis of war to come, a system of early-born Nisei leadership also ha…
Memories of World War II
…e Naples General Hospital had a large theater next door. The Italian Opera Company had scheduled a performance of “Madame Butterfly”, and we walking patients were admitted free of charge provided we had on our maroon robes. I enjoyed the opera very much,–such beautiful music, authentic kimono costumes, and fine stage decorations that depicted far away Nagasaki, Japan. I felt sad when “Chocho san” ended her life in despair. I felt that if I survive…
Masayoshi Miyagi
…consin during basic training. He was killed in action in Italy on November 5, 1943. A biography of him can be found at http://www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com/biographies/miyagi_mushie.html. 1 2 3 4 ►…
From Many to the One
…Germans who occupied the mountain heights. “So I got instructions from my company commander to zero in my mortars right in front of Company B which was deployed in the valley. I zeroed in to just about a hundred yards in front of our troops. I told my gunners to prepare for firing all the rounds they had so that when I gave the order, all guns could keep on firing, until I gave the order to stop. I don’t recall whether the counterattack was compa…
Heaven Can Wait
…s body lay on the other side of the river, in enemy held territory. So the company commander asked his men for volunteers to recover the body. It was at this point that I happened to walk into the gathering. As a chaplain, I immediately raised my hand. At that, four others also volunteered. So then I went to the Engineers and asked for a mine sweeper. They assigned a recently arrived kotonk to my group. This was to be his first trip into the field…
Kazuma Monty Nishiie
…service.” We had to prove our loyalty. After the 100th Infantry Battalion completed basic training, they shipped out to Italy, an arduous journey. We were part of a large convoy, oh many, many ships. Had to zig zag to keep away from the German submarines. Conditions on ship were terrible. So many people, crowded, couldn’t get up. When they threw up, made you throw up, too. Very long trip. When the 442nd Regimental Combat Team arrived in Italy, we…
Memorial Message
…as you and I do, the fact that they gave up their lives for peace and for freedom does not guarantee a better world to come, or just because we had won a war meant that we had won the peace, and we who have stood by their graves and made promises that the world would become better because of their sacrifice must do some profound thinking if we are not to deceive them. Peace, the kind of a peace they died for can be attained only by a new kind of…