World War II Lost Battalion Veterans Reunite - VOA Story

In late October, 1944 the First Battalion of the U.S. 141st Infantry Regiment, comprised mostly of men from the Texas National Guard, broke through German lines in northeastern France and then found themselves cut off and surrounded by the enemy. They became known as "The Lost Battalion" and would have all died had it not been for the heroic rescue operation carried out by the mostly Japanese-American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Around 40 aging veterans from both units came together in Houston on November first for what may be the last time.

The veterans, all in their 80's and 90's now, and their families came from all around the country for this 65th Anniversary event, sponsored by the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. On hand to greet them was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, who posed for photos with each veteran and hailed their courage and their contribution to U.S. history.

The mostly Japanese-American 442nd took heavy casualties. In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed a bill that provided reparations to Japanese Americans interned during the war. There is also a memorial dedicated to the patriotism and courage of the Japanse-American soldiers in Washington, DC.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team became the most decorated unit in US military history for its size and length of service. While their bodies have now become frail with age, they maintain that patriotic spirit and they never forget the men who were unable to come home.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WWII
• War
• Battle
• Veteran
• Japan
• Combat
• Army

[subscriber1911]

woah...now those are some tough elders

[bsumiko]

The Nisei veterans were true Warriors. The Texas unit was about to be slaughtered by the Germans as all attempts to rescue them failed. The 442nd came in, took heavy, heavy casulties, and ended up losing more men than they rescued. But, in the end, they completed their mission of rescuing their Texas brothers. They did this even though the U.S. had taken everything from their loved ones and threw them in relocation camps. Go For Broke!

[profyoshii]

Thanks for posting this video. I am very proud to be an American / Japanese-American / son of "K company" disabled veteran, Kiyoshi Yoshii. I just returned from Wash DC after attending the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on 11/02/11. I wish my Dad was still alive to have attended but know that he was their in spirit along with all of his 442nd Bruddahs. I am so humbled, so honored, so proun to be a son of the 100th/442nd regimental combat team. "Go For Broke"! Respectfully, Brian Yoshii

[yonemitsu1]

Thanks for posting this video. My dad was in the 442 and my mom and dad were interned as well as families

[robbie574]

THANK YOU!