Go for Broke! - December 7, 2009

The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked the immediate start of World War II for the United States. While all Americans rallied to the cause, things did not go well for Americans of Japanese descent. The vast majority of Japanese Americans were patriotic and committed to winning the war, but were discharged from military service, classified as "enemy aliens," and many were relocated to internment camps. In May 1942, however, the U.S. Army reversed its decision to exclude Japanese Americans from the armed forces and created the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, also known as the "Nisei Squadron." The 442nd, comprised of more than 16,000 men and women, fought in Europe -- most notably rescuing the so-called "Lost Battalion" -- and went on to earn the nickname the "Purple Heart Battalion" because of its bravery. Its soldiers earned more than 18,000 awards, including one Congressional Medal of Honor. Their give-it-all-you've-got spirit inspired the regiment's motto, "Go for Broke!," which became the title of a 1951 film celebrating one of the toughest fighting units in the history of the United States Army. Suggested Sites... Go For Broke Educational Foundation - celebrating the accomplishments of Japanese American soldiers in World War II. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Army - featuring history, narrative of events, and photographs of the "Go For Broke" combat unit. Wikipedia: 442nd Infantry Regiment - history of the combat unit. 442nd Regimental Combat Team Historical Society - facts, photos, and tributes.