Japanese American World War II Veterans

SALUTE TO THE 100TH / 442ND / MIS & OTHER UNITS Proud to Serve Japanese American World War II veterans

CHRIS KOMAI EDITOR

Disclaimer: This booklet does not claim to be 100% accurate. While all measures have been taken to ensure the highest level of accuracy it is possible some names may have been missed. We apolo- gize for any errors.

Names in the directory were provided by Americans of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance in partnership with Japanese American Living Legacy. Please contact us for any discrepan- cies or missing names. [email protected]

Special Mahalo to the Hawai’i Herald and Hawai’i Hochi’s publisher and staff for assisting us in our endeavor. Paul Yempuku, Karleen Chinen, Gwen Ishikawa, Karlton Tomomitsu and Drusilla Tanaka. Much Aloha!

Published by the Rafu Shimpo 701 East Third Street, Suite 130 Los Angeles, CA 90013-1789 Telephone: (213) 629-2231 www.rafushimpo.com

Japanese American Living Legacy/Nikkei Writers Guild www.jalivinglegacy.org

Printed by: Southwest Printing Gardena, California

Layout by: Phase Two Graphics / Sansei Graphics SALUTE TO THE 100TH / 442ND / MIS & OTHER UNITS Proud to Serve Japanese American World War II veterans Proud to Serve TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction by Chris Komai 1 Foreword by Congressman Adam Schiff 4 Letter from Tendola Memorial Committee, Italy 6 Letter from Mayor of Bruyeres, France 8 Letter from Mayor of La Houssiere, France 10 Military Information list of ranks 12 list of world war II medals list of medal of honor recipients total number of medals composition of a division, regiment and company presidential unit citations distinguished unit citations Campaign Battles battle of salerno battle of cassino battle of anzio battle of rome battle of bruyeres battle of biffontaine battle of vosges mountains champagne campaign po valley

PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve TABLE OF CONTENTS

Talk Stories daughters perspective 55 sons perspective 57 hardwick sisters gratitude 24-27

Directories directory of the killed-in-action soldiers directory of 100th battalion veterans directory of 442nd regimental combat team veterans directory of military intelligence service veterans directory of the 1399th battalion veterans directory of the women's army corps veterans directory of nisei soldiers - other unit veterans

glossary of terms acknowledgments

TABLE OF CONTENTS PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

- editor in chief - chris komai

- contributing writers - michael komai, publisher, rafu shimpo ellen endo, columnist, rafu shimpo gwen muranaka, editor, rafu shimpo jk yamamoto, writer, rafu shimpo

- support - sonny abalos, art director tom graves, photographer floyd honda, photographer seiki oshiro, community mario reyes, photographer russell k. shoho, community bill thompson, community susan uyemura, production artist gerome villain, community irvin yamada, photographer junwo ‘jim’ yamashita, community

INTRODUCTION PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve SPONSORS

- goodwill sponsor - terasaki foundation

- community sponsor - japanese american living legacy /nikkei writers guild rafu shimpo

- fellowship sponsor -

- friend sponsor -

INTRODUCTIONSPONSORS Proud to Serve NEIGHBORHOOD DONATIONS

- gold level - To the Founders of the Japanese American National War Memorial Court Americans of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance In Memory of James S. Karatsu & Stanley K. Hayami Karatsu Family Dedicated to Mary and Tak Senzaki Senzaki Family & I Company Club SoCal Dedicated to our KIA Comrades Honolulu Item Chapter & Eddie Yamasaki In honor of those who served during World War II Orange Coast Optimist Club

- silver level -

In Memory of Larry K. Miura, K Company, 442nd, KIA Sospel France Ronald K. Yamada In Honor of my uncle, Jim Yamashita, I Company, 442nd Tom Ezaki, Jr. In Honor of our K.I.A. The men of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT In Honor of Yasunobu Shoho - 2nd Headquarters Company, 442nd Russell & Barbara Shoho, Ray and Susan Uyemura

PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve NEIGHBORHOOD DONATIONS

- bronze level -

To the Nisei men and women who served...,Torii & Awakuni, LLP In Memory of Pfc. Haluto Moriguchi, 100th/442nd RCT., Rod and Katherine Baishiki In Honor of all those who served, Japanese American National Museum In Honor of Sgt. George Morikawa Service Company, 442nd RCT, Tak and Marge Kohatsu In Honor of all World War II Nisei soldiers, Yosh and Grace Nakamura In Honor of Susumu, Seichi and Masao Sakaida, Dane, Eric and Grace Sakaida In honor of Yasunobu Shoho, whose military service has brighten our lives, Shoho siblings In Honor of Tom Yagi & Yoshimi “Fred” Kashiwahara, Bryan Yagi In Honor of George, Yutaka Matsuoka and Saburo Takeshita, Brian, Leslie & Stuart Yamamoto In Honor of Edward Yamamoto, Brian, Leslie & Stuart Yamamoto In Honor of the Yamashita brothers, Yamashita family In honor of Henry H. Yusa Medic, 442nd and Ayere Yusa MIS, Yusa Family

NEIGHBORHOOD DONATIONS Proud to Serve NEIGHBORHOOD DONATIONS

- copper level -

In Honor of Shig Doi In Honor of Jimmy Yamashita In Memory of T/Sgt Jim Camp, friend to all Nisei Vets, Wally Camp In Honor of all Nisei Veterans, Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans Tom Graves, Friend of the Nisei Vets In Memory of M Company Captain Robert Hempstead, Third generation Captain Ross Hempstead Jr. In Memory of M Company Sgt. Ben Sasaki, John Hix In Memory of Mas Kinoshita, MIS, Kinoshita Family In Honor of all Nisei Veterans, Martin Kubota In Honor of Bruce Kusunoki and Mits Imai, Craig and Lois Kusunoki In Honor of all veterans, Maesaki Family In Honor of Robert K. Mizumoto, 442 RCT and Henry H. Uyehara, MIS, Michael Mizumoto In Honor of Robert K. Mizumoto, 442 RCT and Henry H. Uyehara, MIS, Peggy Mizumoto In Honor of Stanley Hayami, Jim Yamashita and those who served with them, Joanne Oppenheim To All who were proud to serve, Fumio Serikawa In Memory of Hiromi “Lomo” Shinji, Kazuko Shinji and children In Honor of all Nisei Veterans, Gerald and Sandra Kimura Shinkawa In Honor of all Nisei Veterans, Dwayne Shoji, Studio Effects In Honor of Mas Takahashi, Scott and Susan Takahashi In Memory of Saburo, Goro, Walter, Willie Tanamachi and Taira Nakao, MIS, Sandra Tanamachi In Memory of George Uchimiya, K Company, 442 RCT, Uchimiya Family All Gave Some, Some Gave All..., Henry Wadahara

12 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS INTRODUCTION 13 “One would think that the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the only unit in Italy the way you fellows are squawking about giving it up!”

Major General Alfred M. Gruenther Communications about General Mark Clark, 5th Army, and General Jacob Devers, 6th Army, both arguing for the 442nd to be assigned to their division

PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION 1 2 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS INTRODUCTION 3 Proud to Serve FOREWORD BY CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF

4 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS FOREWORD 5 Top Photo: Closeup of the memorial dedicated to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Bottom Left: Memorial Park; Bottom Right: Closeup of the memorial

Photos courtesy of Rosario Lertola

6 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS THE MEMORIAL THE LAST DAYS PARK

The Historical Committee Tendola strongly wanted to perform a task assigned to him by a man morally, making the gesture of returning to the hill of the Preta, Tendola, crowned his exemplary life. This man was Lieutenant Saidachi Kubota of 442 ° Regimental Com- bat Team.

He wanted to come back here where, sixty years ago, as a soldier in the U.S. Nazi freed us from oppression, but returned especially for the desire to once again call his friend and comrade Tadao "Beanie" Hayashi, who fell at that place.

Tendola in the country and its campaigns, the last grueling bout of breaking the Gothic Line, the companies of the 442 Regimental Combact Team, left the field on many heroes.

Sometimes just a simple little gesture to go back in time, as has happened to us we felt that the Committee pushed up by the Lieutenant Kubota want to be with this park, the heroism of those who gave liberty to this small corner of Italy but also throughout Europe. This small park is a tribute to all those people heard: soldiers, civilians and even parti- sans, who by their courage and disregard for the lives of future generations have allowed us to be here now, free.

In particular, the monument to soldiers of 442 ° RCT decorated in their country with the MOH, the highest honor, has wanted to be a further tribute to those who fought heroically, with sacrifice, far from home, for the ideals of freedom universally recognized.

A Tendola, on the scenic hills of Preta, where he particularly praised the heroism and self- sacrifice of 442 ° Regimental Combat Team, everything has been made immortal.

It will be with pride that we all go up on that hill for years to remember with affection those who gave us the gift of freedom.

Rosario Lertola Committee representative

LETTER FROM THE TENDOLA ITALY MEMORIAL COMMITTEE 7 Top Photo: Yuko Nakahira (Anti-Tank); Mits Honda (232nd Engingeers) and Rikio Tsuda (100th Battalion) salute the color guard at the Memorial located in Bruyeres, France. Bottom Left: Church where the 442nd RCT rested. Bottom Right: American Veterans Cemetary, Epinal Photos courtesy of Japanese American Living Legacy

8 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF BRUYERES 9 Top Photo: Rescue of the Lost Battalion - La Houssiere, October 1944. Bottom Left: Water hole that the Lost Battalion guys used for survival. Bottom Right: Vosges History Guide, Gerome Villain with one of the Belly Tanks used during the Rescue of the Lost Battalion. Photos courtesy of Vosges History Guide

10 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS GREETINGS VOSGES MOUNTAINS

My name is Gerome Villain. Growing up in the Vosges Mountains and listening my grandparents, neighbors and friends, relating me their war stories, I understood that what happened during the war and particulary on october 1944 was very difficult and terrible for the Vosgians people but also for our heroes, the american soldiers. Living in this part of France, so many things recall us the war. People, who were teenagers in the 1940's keep in their memories of these difficult four years of occupation, some of them need to talk about it.

Still today, a lot of old buildings, monuments, show the intensity of the figths ; shelling, bul- lets impacts in our peaceful forest, so many of strange little holes...foxholes. We know some never go home again.

Being child and then teenager, I needed to underestand WHY. Why I can see tears when my grandma talks to me about the war, why she and people are so affected when they think or talk about their souvenirs with the GI's. Little by little, I wanted to say Merci. Merci for all of our liberators did for us, Merci for giving wonderful smiles to our grandparents generation.

Never we won't forget all of our Heroes from the 100/442nd & 36th did for us, never we won't forget all the sacrifice they did..... Never, we won't forget you ! We love you. Please come visit so we can show you how Vosges is today.

Thanks you so much! Mahalo! Merci beaucoup!

Gerome Villain Vosges History Guide

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF LA HOUSSIERE 11 Left: William “Bill” Hardwick Top Right: Sisters Janet Hardwick Brown and Susan Hardwick

TO THE MEN OF THE 442nd RCT AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

We are “The Hardwick Sisters”, Janet and Susan: proud daughters of Sgt. William Hard- wick, 141st Battalion, Company B, “The Lost Battalion” Four years ago, we began a search to find the members of the 442nd RCT for a special reason, we wanted to find these men and properly convey our love and unending thanks for rescuing our father in October 30, 1944 that cold winter day in the Vosges Mountains.

First, we would like to tell you a bit about our father. William “Bill” Hardwick came home to Indiana after the war, wounded but strong in spirit. As soon as he could, he worked to serve our community, first as County Auditor. Later, he would serve the state of Indiana as the State Director of Mental Health and then as the State Budget Director. After ful- filling those responsibilities, he ran for and was elected to a seat in the State Legislature. He held that position until his health began to fail he would die an untimely death at the age of 51 in 1972.

He was a charismatic man, funny and handsome, much loved by his friends and family. He was the glue that held our family together. He was beloved by not only his children, but his grandchildren. His words of wisdom empowered all of us to go out into the world with a confidence that enabled us to confront anything with determination. Our family gatherings are still, to this day, sprinkled with wonderful memories and stories about him weaving themselves in and out of our conversations.

12 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS It is important that we are able to tell you about our father, had it not been for your courage and determination, our father would have certainly perished that week so long ago in the Vos- ges Mountains. He would NOT have returned home to serve his community, we would NOT have been able to watch him gaze into the tiny face of his first grandchild, his words of ad- vice would have gone unspoken and unheard, our hearts would NOT be filled with the rich memories of his presence, and our mother, Pat, would not have gotten to spend thirty more years with the love of her life.

It is also incumbent upon us to make sure that you know that he did not squander the life you so courageously handed back to him, he did not take your sacrifices lightly, he sought to ac- knowledge your gift to him by living his life as you would have hoped with faith and honor and by giving back to the country you so honorably served.

The bravery that you showed during those difficult days and the dignity with which you faced the undeniable bigotry here at home stands as an example of courage of the highest order. We owe you and the men who gave the “highest sacrifice” the greatest respect. The simple words of “thank You” seem so inadequate in the face of the losses that you sustained and the efforts that you made during those days.

Please know that the story of the” Rescue Of The Lost Battalion” is told not only in our family, but to the friends and work-mates and school-mates of the grateful descendants of William Hardwick. Your story is being celebrated in Colorado, Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Texas, In- diana and North Carolina. As our father’s “great-grandchildren” reach adulthood, this story will pass along to their children and so on for generations to come, you will be spoken of in the highest regard, as you should.

My grandson Ethan has a friend named Patrick ---- a boy whose grandparents were interned in the camps. Ethan shared with Patrick the story of your brave rescue of his great-grandfa- ther, our father. In re-telling this story to his family, Patrick learned that his grandmother watched some of the men from her camp march off to join the 442nd. We sent him one of the 442nd patches that you gave to us. His plan was to give it to his grandmother during his next visit with her. You can bet that a little Japanese American boy walked home from school a little taller that day --- the gentle weight of that patch carefully tucked into his pocket.

May you all live in peace and happiness may all of the joys of this life be yours and may your families and friends bask in the knowledge that they have been privileged to know and love a True Hero...

Bless you all and finally, long overdue from our family to you: THANK YOU FOR RESCUING OUR FATHER, WILLIAM HARDWICK...

Susan Hardwick Janet Hardwick Brown Martinsville, Indiana Pinehurst, North Carolina

INTRODUCTION 13 Proud to Serve LIST OF WORLD WAR II RANKS

- officer ranks -

5 star - general of army 4 star - general 3 star - lieutenant general 2 star - major general 1 star - brigadier general colonel lieutenant colonel major captain first lieutenant second lieutenant

- enlisted ranks -

master sergeant first sergeant technical sergeant staff sergeant sergeant corporal private first class private

14 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve LIST OF WORLD WAR II MEDALS

- medals -

Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Navy Cross Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Purple Heart Oak leaf cluster designates multiple awarding of the same medal Air Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Combat Infantry Badge Distinguished Service Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Legion of Merit World War II Victory Medal

RANKS AND LIST OF WORLD WAR ii MEDALS 15 Proud to Serve LIST OF WORLD WAR II MEDALS

- medal of honor recipients -

Barney Hajiro Mikio Hasemoto* Joe Hayashi Shizuya Hayashi Daniel Inouye Yeiki Kobashigawa Robert Kuroda* Kaoru Moto* Sadao Munemori* [originally awarded in 1946] Kiyoshi Muranaga* Masato Nakae* Shinyei Nakamine* William Nakamura* Joe Nishimoto* Allan Ohata James Okubo Yukio Okutsu Frank Ono* Kazuo Otani* George “Joe” Sakato Ted Tanouye*

*Awarded posthumously

16 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve LIST OF WORLD WAR II MEDALS

- number of recipients -

22 current Medal of Honor Recipients 52 current Distinguished Service Cross Recipients (21 upgraded to Medal of Honor)

XX Silver Stars XX Bronze Stars XXXX Purple Hearts

MEDAL RECIPIENTS 17 18 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS COMPOSITION OF A REGIMENT 19 Proud to Serve PRESIDENTIAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS

- 7 presidential unit citations -

july 16, 1944 Issued by Headquarters 5th Army. For action on 26 and 27 100th battalion june 1944 in the vicinity of belvedere and sassotta, italy.

january 21, 1945 Issued by Headquarters 7th Army. For action on 21 october 442nd rct 1944 in the vicinity of belmont, france. company F and L

april 5-14, 1945 Issued by War Department. For action in the vicinity of ser- 442nd rct ravezza, carrara, fosdinovo, italy.

july 16, 1945 Issued by Headquarters 7th Army. For action during the 442nd rct period of 27 october to 30 october 1944 near biffontaine, 3rd battalion france

july 17, 1945 Issued by Headquarters 5th Army. For action on 19 october 442nd rct 1944 near bruyeres, france; 28-29 october 1944 near bif- 2nd battalion fontaine; and 6-10 april 1945 near massa, italy.

august 3, 1945 Issued by Headquarters 7th Army. For action during 15 100th battalion october 1944 to 30 october 1944 near bruyeres, biffontaine 442nd rct and in the foret deomaniale de champ, france.

october 1, 1945 Issued by Headquarters 36th infantry division. For action on 232nd combat 23 october to 11 november 1944 near bruyeres, france. engineer company

20 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS Proud to Serve PRESIDENTIAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS

- 7 distinguished unit citations -

100th battalion 26-27 june, 1944; belvedere italy

100th battalion 15 to 30 october, 1944; biffontaine, france 442nd rct

2nd battalion 19 october, 1944; bruyeres 442nd rct 28-29 october, 1944; biffontaine 6-10 april, 1945; massa, italy

company l 21 october, 1944; belmont, france 442nd rct

company f 21 october, 1944; belmont, france 442nd rct

3rd battalion 27 to 30 october, 1944; biffontaine, france 442nd rct

442nd rct 5-14 april, 1945; gothic line

PRESIDENTIAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS 21 “They bought an awful hunk of America with their blood. You’re damn right those Nisei boys have a place in the American heart, now and forever. We cannot allow a single injustice to be done to the Nisei without defeat- ing the purposes for which we fought.”

General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell

22 PROUD TO SERVE: JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS