Happy Memorial Day!
Between the barbecued ribs, the corn on the cob and the watermelon seeds we should remember that Memorial Day is about remembering. Remembering the past, so hopefully, we will not repeat it. To remember those who have given of themselves so we can enjoy this unofficial first day of summer.I'd like to take a moment to remember the 442nd Regiment from World War II. This was a squadron that was primarily made up of Japanese-Americans that were trying to prove their loyalty to the United States after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
In February of 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, the internment of those designated as security risks. Although it did not single out those of Japanese decent, it readied America for the internment of Japanese-Americans.
Shortly thereafter, in June of 1942, two regiments of Hawaiian Japanese soldiers were sent to the mainland to train. The leaders worried about the loyalties of those two regiments training so close to Japan. Yet once on the mainland, the two regiments performed so well in training that on February 1, 1943 the U.S. government approved of a squadron of Japanese decent. The 442nd was born.
The 442nd was send to Europe to fight the Axis as the government did not trust them enough to fight the war in the Pacific. It was on the battlefields of Italy, France and Germany that the 442nd, whose motto was Go For Broke, became the most decorated unit in the history of the U.S. military.A short list of their decorations:
- 22 Medal of Honors (The highest military decoration)
- 52 Distinguished Service Crosses (The second highest military decoration)
- 560 Silver Stars
- 4,000 Bronze Stars
- 9,486 Purple Hearts
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Holiday.
Labels: 442 regiment, memorial day
posted by LoneCactus @ 9:02 AM
Comments: 0
