Posted on 10/24/2024 12:30:57 PM PDT by chrisinoc
Before they were known as the “Lost Battalion,” the 1st Battalion was a part of the 36th Infantry Division fighting in Europe during World War II. After a bungled strategic decision sent them deep into German territory in Southern France, the Battalion was surrounded. For six days, the 275 soldiers remained trapped with dwindling air-dropped supplies as the Germans threatened to wipe them out and repelled repeated rescue attempts on the ground. Germany's leader himself is said to have taken a personal interest in seeing the Battalion completely destroyed.
In a last ditch effort, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was sent in to break through the staunch German defenses. They would pay a steep price to come out the other side. As they emerged to find the Lost Battalion, they may have been, to some, a remarkable sight - especially in the European theater of war. The 442nd was a segregated unit composed almost entirely of second-generation Japanese Americans.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Outstanding video!!! Mr. Miyagi would be very proud!!!
This past week I hunted the same mountain in SE WA state with Frank, a WWII Submarine Vet. He served on the USS Redfin (USS 272) for two outings from Pearl. Frank is 100 years and 11 months old, and was still 700 yards up the steep mountain by the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers. Frank shot his last mule deer at age 96 with a 416-yard shot confirmed by a rangefinder.
Frank hunted 8 days up on that spot this year, but admitted he hurt his hip on the 8th day and had to crawl down all that way back to the family Jeep. He waited for them, and they all went back to camp.
Frank doesn’t have any particular health problems. He has a few fewer teeth than a guy might like to have. But he carries a pack and a rifle up a steep slope still. He told me about his daily workout regimen, lots of flexibility stretches, core strengthening, and 5-pound weights (was 8 pounds until last year). He’s motivated to come back again next year, but is never quite sure he’ll make it.
I have a picture of Frank and me last week, holding the head of the ~200 lb. 4x5 mule deer buck I shot with the Winchester Model 94 rifle in .30-30 made in 1898 bought by the great great grandfather of FReeper DainBramaged that he bequeathed me on his death bed. Richard is no longer with us, but his family’s legacy lives on in the hunting fields of Washington. Thanks to my dear passed friend Richard for that great opportunity and honor.
I want to be Frank: Old, Healthy and Hunting at 100!
Fantastic history video of 2nd Generation of Japanese/American Solders
who fought bravely to rescue the Lost Battalion.
Hollywood made a film about the 442nd. I think it’s pretty good.
The movie is called “Go for Broke” and released in 1951.
It starred Van Johnson and it’s an above average war movie. John Banner (Sgt. Schultz) and Nugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver) had minor parts. You can see the movie on Tubi and YouTube.
Lane Nakano was a co-star. His adopted brother was Guy Gabaldon, who earned a Navy Cross for was a United States Marine who, at age 18, captured or persuaded to surrender over 1,300 Japanese soldiers and civilians during the battles for Saipan and Tinian islands in 1944. He should have been awarded the Medal of Honor but never received it.
“Guy Gabaldon, who earned a Navy Cross”
“The Lost Battalion” was the 500+ soldiers of the 77th Regimen ‘lost’ (trapped and encircled) in the Argonne Forest in WWI.
Thx!
442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated regiment in WWII.
These men fought like samurai for the U.S.A, their adoptive country.
True immigrant Patriots, I pray the current crop of illegals embrace this country with the 442nds fervor.
The father of a friend of mine was a member of the “Go for Broke” brigade. I never knew how they got that name.
For years those veterans participated in the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade. I think they have now passed away.
My friend’s father had been in the internment camp before enlisting in the Army. He was intensely patriotic about America.
Going to have to do some
digging on this as now
my curiosity has been
raised. Major General John
E Dahlquist commanded
the “Lost Battalion”.
My mothers’ maiden name
was Dahlquist.
“These men fought like samurai for the U.S.A, their adoptive country.
True immigrant Patriots, I pray the current crop of illegals embrace this country with the 442nds fervor.”
Correction: They were not in their adoptive countries or immigrants.
Nisei were American born and eligible for military and government service.
Issei (Japanese born immigrants) were not allowed to join any branch of the government.
https://knowyourphrase.com/go-for-broke
Many of its members were Hawaiian and GFB is a Hawaiian Pidgin craps (dice) phrase.
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