How much do you know about the 442nd Regiment of Japanese and American Army in World War II?

The 442nd Infantry Regiment of the US Army was founded during World War II. Its soldiers come from Japanese-Americans. It was a very special existence in the American combat troops at that time. While fighting the enemy, we also face hostility and rejection from friendly forces. For the sake of their families and to prove themselves, the soldiers of the 442nd Infantry Regiment fought desperately, creating the regimental units with the highest casualty rate in the history of the US military.

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1853 During the Black Ship Incident, the American Perry Fleet opened the door of Japan with gunboats, which opened the prelude for Japan to learn from Europe and America. Far-sighted Japanese began to go abroad, and the United States, as the first country to contact Japan, became the first goal of many Japanese. Japan has a small territory, which is typical of a large population and a small land. Around 1908, Japan began to immigrate to the United States (mainly the United States and Brazil) in an organized way. In addition, some Japanese who went to study in the United States eventually stayed in the United States. These people are mainly concentrated in California on the west coast of the United States, and Japanese-Americans formed this group when they lived there.

194 1 65438+February 7th is a day to change the life of Japanese-Americans. The Japanese joint fleet attacked Pearl Harbor in the United States. The anger of the American people needs to be vented, and the US military needs scapegoats to defend Pearl Harbor. Eventually, Japanese-Americans got into trouble. All over the United States, it is said that "the Japanese living in the United States are spies, providing accurate information to the Japanese troops in Pearl Harbor", and the "Japanese Residents' Association" helps "the Japanese troops land on the west coast of the United States" and so on.

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The problem of racial discrimination in the United States has been very serious, especially the prejudice and discrimination against Asian residents is deeply rooted. This time, with a fair excuse, all kinds of hostile acts followed. 19411On February 8, the California government expelled all Japanese public officials, restricted Japanese Americans from going to sea and working in factories, and Japanese Americans engaged in high-end occupations such as lawyers and doctors were also disqualified; In the United States, attacks against Japanese-Americans are also increasing. Many Japanese homes were splashed with paint and set on fire, and Japanese-run shops were also destroyed and robbed. Anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States is high.

19411February19, John Devit, commander of the west coast defense command of the U.S. army, first proposed to put Japanese nationals under centralized supervision; On February 1942, 1 1, US Secretary of the Army Stimson submitted a "resettlement" plan for overseas Chinese and Japanese-Americans to President Roosevelt. 1942, 19 In February, Roosevelt issued Executive Order No.9066, but Roosevelt did not explicitly say that it was aimed at the Japanese, but only said that he would set up concentration camps to detain the "wartime enemies" of the United States, targeting all countries at war with the United States. It is said that the United States also declared war on Germany and Italy, but the Germans and Italians were not affected at all. Only 6.5438+0.2 million Japanese Americans were put into concentration camps, including the elderly, children and women.

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Most of these 120000 Japanese-Americans have been working and living in the United States for decades. Two thirds of them were born in America, and many of them don't even speak Japanese. These people were deprived of all their property by the U.S. government and forced to be held in 1 1 concentration camps in eight States, including California. The concentration camp is set in the most barren and desolate area in the United States, with poor living conditions and no worries about food and clothing. The most important thing is that all actions are under the supervision of guards, and bathing and going to the toilet are no exception.

However, the Japanese are really resilient. Japanese-Americans imprisoned in concentration camps do not make trouble or resist. They obey the arrangement, raise the American flag and sing the stars and stripes every day. Not completing the work of making posters for the army for free; Seriously study British and American history. At 1943, the American government saw that these Japanese people were really obedient and easy to use, which was also a waste of money. Under the idea of President Roosevelt, the 442nd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army appeared.

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The 442nd Infantry Regiment of the US Army actually consists of two parts. Part of it is the 100 independent infantry battalion composed of Japanese-Americans who have served in the US Army for a long time. These soldiers were originally stationed in Hawaii. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the US military dared not let these people stay in Hawaii, nor could they let these soldiers who were familiar with the internal affairs of the US military leave the barracks. Finally, they decided to recruit them and send them to fight in Europe. The other part is civilians selected from Japanese-Americans held in concentration camps. These people have to undergo military training, so they go to the battlefield later than the 100 independent infantry battalion.

1943 In February, the 100 independent infantry battalion was sent to fight in North Africa for the first time and was placed under the jurisdiction of the 34th Infantry Division. These Japanese soldiers are discriminated against by their colleagues in addition to fighting, and they are often made difficult at ordinary times. The most bitter, tiring and dangerous task during the war was also theirs. Especially after the allied forces landed in Italy, the 100 independent infantry battalion was used as a commando. 1300 arrived in Rome, only 52 1 man survived, which was the highest casualty rate, because almost all of them won the Purple Star Meritorious Medal, and the 100 independent infantry battalion was also awarded the title of "Purple Star Camp".

By April, 1944, the entire 442nd Infantry Regiment had all arrived in the European battlefield, and started its own journey of meritorious service, even more a journey of death. 1in may, 944, these Japanese soldiers fought fiercely with the elite German mountain troops in the Italian mountains for two months, and finally drove the Germans away. 1944 10, in the Battle of Vasjes in northeastern France, in order to rescue 200 American soldiers surrounded by the Germans, the 442nd Infantry Regiment suffered 700 casualties; 1In April, 945, the 442nd Infantry Regiment broke through the German Gothic defense line in one day by suicide charge, which had previously blocked the allied attack for six months. It can be said that the desperate play of these Japanese-Americans not only shocked the Allies, but also shocked the Germans.

After World War II, the 442nd Infantry Regiment was sent to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Independence Day parade 1946, and was received by President Truman. Although the Japanese soldiers of the 442nd Infantry Regiment fought bravely and made outstanding achievements, they were still discriminated against after World War II. Japanese soldiers who returned to their hometown found that their houses, cars and other property were divided up by local whites. When they take buses and go to restaurants and other public places, white people still refuse to serve them; Even some soldiers disabled by war will be humiliated and beaten in public.

The establishment of the 442nd Infantry Regiment composed of Japanese-Americans was only 3,800, but during the whole World War II, 18 1433 people won various awards. Including 7 Presidential Army Awards, 2 1 Medal of Honor, 52 Outstanding Service Medals, 1 Medal of Outstanding Service, 560 Silver Star Medals, 22 Outstanding Legion Medals, 15 Soldier Medals, 4,000 Bronze Star Medals, 9,486 Purple Star Medals, etc. Behind these honors is the Japanese army of the entire 442nd Infantry Regiment.

After World War II, the US military also heard about the unfair treatment suffered by Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, changing this situation and publicizing their achievements have no effect. Until 1962, Japanese-Americans who were put into concentration camps received the first compensation of $36 million; It was not until 1988 that President Reagan signed a document formally apologizing to the120,000 Japanese-Americans who were put into the concentration camp, and each person paid $20,000.