Did you know that many Japanese Americans bravely fought for our country during World War II? After some of them served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, they joined the newly formed 442nd Regimental Combat Team and played a crucial role in Italy and France. Explore their amazing accomplishments!

I rewrote and expanded this article early 2022, including adding some national archives footage.

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Before The 442nd Regimental Combat Team

The story starts with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.

Anyone of Japanese Ancestry is An Enemy

Suddenly the Japanese were our enemy, which meant that every American of Japanese ancestry was suspect. They were classified as category 4C (enemy alien) and not subject to the draft. They weren’t even allowed to enlist in the army.

In Hawai’i, Japanese Americans made up 30 % of the population, so inevitably some of them ended up in the Hawaii Territorial Guard. When the governor realized that, each member of Japanese descent was kicked out. Because they still wanted to help, these enemy aliens made up their own non-combat volunteer “army” the so-called Varsity Victory Volunteers.

Feb 1942: Varsity Victory Volunteers

After all Japanese Americans got kicked out of the Hawaii Territorial guard, they needed a plan B They organized into the Varsity Victory Volunteers and offered their services wherever they could be useful on Hawai’i. For example, they helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building roads and military installations.

In doing so, they built goodwill for the later formation of a dedicated Japanese American Regiment. But first, the army created an all Japanese American unit

June 1942: the 100th Infantry Battalion One Puka Puka

In June 1942, about 1,400 so-called Nisei (persons born in the US to Japanese parents) boarded an army transport and shipped to the mainland. Most of these Japanese Americans had served in the Hawaii National Guard.

Once they arrived in Oakland, they were designated the 100th Infantry Battalion. Not attached to a regiment, the unit nicknamed themselves “One Puka Puka.” The word “puka” is Hawaiian for the term “hole,” referring to the zeros in the number.

July 1942 – July 1943: Training and Motto

After six months of intensive training at Camp McCoy (Wisconsin), the 100th Battalion transferred to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 100th successfully passed the most intense and advanced training exercises there. Late July 1943, the 100th received its battalion colors and motto, “Remember Pearl Harbor,” as requested by the unit.

Aug 1943: Deployed in Italy

As part of the Italian Campaign, the 100th fought at Monte Cassino, Anzio and Rome. Losing more than half of their members (from 1,300 to 500 in only five months ), they began receiving their first replacements from the then newly formed 442nd Regimental Combat Team

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team

After monitoring a year of the Varsity Victory Volunteers and the excellent battle performance of the 100th, the War Department finally decided to start a regiment with just Americans of Japanese ancestry.

Jan 1943: Call for volunteers

In January 1943, the long awaited call for a Japanese American Combat Team came. The order stated “All cadre men must be American citizens of Japanese ancestry who have resided in the United States since birth”. The higher level officers still had to be Caucasian.

Feb 1943: the 442nd Regional Combat Team Activated

The U.S. Army called for 1,500 volunteers from Hawaii and 3,000 from the mainland. After a whopping 10,000 men from Hawaii volunteered and only 1,200 from the mainland, the army revised the numbers. Eventually around 3,000 men from Hawaii and 800 men from the mainland were inducted.

1943 – 1944: Training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi

From May 1943 to April 1944, the men of the 442nd trained for combat in Mississippi. Learning to fight as a team, they excelled in all that was asked of them. Over the course of training, many of them deployed to Europe as replacements for the 100th Infantry Battalion.

Check out this National Archives 1944 video from the War Relocation Authority. It has amazing footage of the 442nd Combat Team’s training. The video was produced before they went out to battle but already sounds surprisingly hopeful and upbeat about their service and dedication.

June 1944: Deployed in Europe and Joined With the 100th

After their extensive training, they deployed to Europe, where they landed at Anzio in Italy on May 28th. A little later they met up with the 100th Infantry Battalion close to Rome and that 100th became a part of the 442nd Combat Team.

They fought in Italy, in France, and performed so well that they eventually ended up being the most decorated unit in the history of American warfare. Their motto was ‘Go for broke!’ and they sure did!

Our Pearl Harbor Tour

When we did a Pearl Harbor tour with Hoku Hawaii Tours, our bus driver Paolo told us about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. His father was part of the regiment and fell in love with his Italian mother when they were in Rome.

It was love at first sight and soon after the war they got married and now their son is driving around visitors to Pearl Harbor. History is fascinating!

442nd Regimental Combat Team: Conclusion

Before Paolo told us about the 442nd Regiment we had never heard of them, so thank you, Paolo! What an amazing part of history and a tale of courage and bravery of the Hawaiian Japanese Americans!

And thank you to the brave soldiers of the 442nd!

Now their son Paolo was driving us around Hawai’i and really made history come alive for us by telling us this story, and motivating me to learn more about the unlikely heroes of the 442nd regiment. If you want to read more about them,

Pearl Harbor Info

• What to expect during a Visit to Pearl Harbor;
• Five interesting facts about Ford Island. Do you know why the missionaries renamed it?
• Where the Second World War ended! Visit USS Missouri. Now with historic video footage of the Japanese surrender.

Best Things To Do on Oahu

• Hiking Diamond Head in Hawai’i: ten tips to help you succeed at this iconic hike; Even if you are out of shape or live with a chronic illness;
• Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail: Whales for the Win; Check out this relatively easy trail with epic views! The trail is fully paved, so wheel chair and stroller accessible;
• Manoa Falls Hike with MS: celebrating failure! A much harder hike, especially after a big rain. Not wheelchair or stroller accessible;
• Snorkeling and Dolphin Watching in Honolulu: for me, swimming is way easier than hiking;
• Surfing at Waikiki Beach Go surf at the Birth Place of Surfing! Great teachers available at Dave’s Big Waves!
• Beginners Birding Guide to Hawai’i. Discover how most of these pretty birds are actually invasive pests!

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