Heroes all, the Nisei Gis who fought so superbly in World War II needed no urging to 'go for broke!' Sept. 1998

This is basically a review of the book Go For Broke.

The article notes that the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was attached to the Fifth and Seventh Armies, and they fought in both Italy and France. This was all done while many of their parents, brothers and sisters were still confined to internment camps in the US.

The Nisei fought in seven campaigns, made two beachhead assaults, and were responsible for rescuing the �Lost Battalion.� An example of the types of casualties they suffered doing that is given when K Company is mentioned in the article. They started with 187 riflemen, and ended with 17 who were not killed or wounded.

General Mark W. Clark, Fifth Army Commander, said of the Nisei:

�These are some of the best goddamn fighters in the U.S. Army. if you have more, send them over.�

General George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, said:

They were superb; the men of the 100th/442nd took terrific casualties. They showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit...everybody wanted them.�

(Keep in mind that this also was all going on when people on the West Coast were working to stop any of the Japanese Americans from being allowed back in California and other states when the war was over.)

The article says the 442nd got 8 Presidential Unit Citations, one Medal of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, 560 Silver Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 9,486 Purple Hearts, and 4,000 Bronze Stars. They also had a casualty rate of 300%, meaning many of the men were injured more than one time.

President Truman said: