The Battle of the “Lost Battalion” of World War II has been hailed as one of the fiercest and most heroic land battles in American military history. In October 1944, as Allied forces fought to expel the Nazis from France, a unit of Japanese American soldiers deployed on a seemingly impossible mission. Sent to the rugged terrain of the Vosges in northeastern France – an area that has not suffered a military breach since the Roman Empire – they were ordered to extract a trapped Texas National Guard unit deep in the forest, surrounded by 6,000 Nazi soldiers.
Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, served in the 100th / 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd). An isolated unit under the command of white officers, the Nisei faced intense racism and discrimination in their country, especially after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor prompted the United States to jail many. them and their families in wartime prison camps. During their campaign in France, the 442nd included the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, and the 232nd Engineer Company, all of which played critical roles.
Nisei’s men knew many would not return from the rescue mission. Previous attempts had failed, resulting in heavy casualties. The trapped Texans were dangerously short of ammunition and rations. But the Nisei fought fiercely in hand-to-hand combat, trudging through muddy forest and gruesome weather-plagued roads, sometimes outnumbering four to one. By the end of the mission, the 442nd had fully adhered to its chosen motto “Go For Broke”, becoming the most decorated regiment in US military history for its size and length of service.
READ MORE: How two Japanese Americans fought the Nazis abroad – and prejudice at home
Liberation of French towns: Bruyères and Biffontaine
When the 442nd arrived in France on October 8, 1944, it was attached to the 36th Infantry Division, which also included the Texans. Under the command of Major-General John Dahlquist, they fought aggressively to liberate French towns and push the Nazis back across the German border. But the Nazis and the mountains proved to be formidable.
As a freezing rain settled over the region, the Nisei arrived still equipped with their summer uniforms. Most came by car transport, but some traveled in railroad cars stinking of horse manure – a visceral reminder of the horse stalls where Japanese-American families were relegated to American “assembly centers” before. their incarceration in camps under Executive Order 9066 of President Franklin Roosevelt.
The first Vosges mission of Nisei is to liberate two small towns: Bruyères, which requires passing four surrounding hills, and Biffontaine.
The campaign began on October 15, under miserable conditions. Fog and dense vegetation limited the visibility of the Nisei to about ten meters. The cold rain soaked their uniforms, socks and boots. And the Nazis aimed their artillery shells at the treetops, so when they exploded, shrapnel and splinters fell on Nisei’s soldiers. By the end of the first day, the 442nd had advanced only 500 meters. After three days of intense fighting to capture the Four Hills, the Nisei entered Bruyères and engaged in fierce door-to-door combat. At nightfall on October 18, they liberated the city.
But it came at a high cost: “There were so many road deaths that they had to bring a bulldozer to push them off the road,” 442 veteran James Matsumoto said in an oral history interview. with the Go For Broke National. Education center. “We lost a lot of men there.”
The officers of the 100th Battalion of the 442nd believed that the small neighboring hamlet of Biffontaine had no tactical value. But General Dahlquist ordered them to enter. They entered the city under enemy fire and for a time were cut off from supplies and reinforcements. Exhausted after eight days of fighting and crouching in the cellars of ruined buildings as the Germans shouted for them to surrender, the 100th held out until reinforcements arrived. On October 23, they managed to free Biffontaine. But in the process, they lost many of their most experienced officers and enlisted men.
WATCH: Hidden Heroes: The Nisei Soldiers of WWII premieres Thursday, November 11 at 8 / 7c. Watch a preview.
How the Texans got tricked
On October 24, the 442nd enjoyed a well-deserved rest. One of the units relieving them was the 1st Battalion, 141st Regiment, a Texas National Guard team of approximately 275 white American soldiers. The Texans marched four miles and occupied two hills outside of Biffontaine, unaware that the Nazis allowed them to pass, only to attack the rear of the column and block any retreat or supply with landmines and nests. machine guns. The Texans were trapped.
The next day, two other battalions of the 141st tried to break the Nazi stranglehold, without success. That afternoon, the Texans sent a 36-man patrol to attempt an escape. Only five returned.
Chronology of the rescue of the “lost battalion”
October 26: Originally General Dahlquist ordered the Nisei, with only two days off, to launch a frontal attack on the hill where the Texans were stranded. But his officers argued that such a maneuver would result in high casualties, proposing instead to outflank the Nazis.
October 27: Nisei soldiers mobilized on either side of the ridge road north of Biffontaine. German landmines, thick brush, dense forest, and persistent defense slowed Nisei’s advance.
October 28: Under heavy artillery and mortar fire – and increasing losses – they advanced within 1,500 yards of the Texans.
October 29: The command of the Nisei battalion receives a radio message indicating that the situation of the Texans has become desperate. A tank platoon arrived, providing support fire from its 75mm guns, but fell on Nisei’s infantry to continue alone on the steep cliff swarming with Nazis, later dubbed “Suicide Hill”.
After being ordered to “fix” the bayonets, the men of the “I” and “K” companies stood up, firing from the hips, advancing as one, led by their commander. According to Pfc. Ichigi Kashiwagi, of K Company, “We screamed and shot anything that moved … We didn’t care anymore.”
At the sight of this action, the Germans, who had just engaged in a fierce exchange of fire of 30 minutes, raised their weapons and fled their positions.
At about the same time, 3000 meters to the rear, “E” and “F” Companies used pincer movement to outflank the Nazis as intended and attack from behind, while “G” Company advanced. head on, taking the enemy by surprise. The coordinated action annihilated the Germans.
October 30: Company “I” establishes first contact with the lost battalion. The Texans radio message read, “Patrol 442nd here. Tell them we love them! About 211 soldiers of the original 275 of the lost battalion survived the siege.
WATCH: WWII in HD on HISTORY Vault
High losses, high distinctions
July 15, 1946: After President Harry S. Truman inspects the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team, he pins the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation banner in the unit’s colors. Composed of Americans of Japanese descent, the 442nd distinguished itself in combat in Europe.
Bettmann / Getty Images
Almost two weeks later, on November 12, General Dahlquist ordered a revision of the 442nd. Seeing only a fraction of the assembled unit, the general warned the acting regiment commander of the missing troops in formation.
“Where are they?” Dahlquist demanded.
Lt. Col. Virgil Miller replied, “That’s all that’s left. ”
Between October 14 and 31, during the liberation campaigns of Bruyères, Biffontaine and the lost battalion, the 442nd suffered more than 800 losses. They were deployed again on November 13.
Honors and honors for the 442nd “Go For Broke” Combat Team poured in, from President Truman to the bottom. “They were superb! US Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall later said of the 442nd. “They suffered terrible losses. They showed rare courage and a formidable fighting spirit… Everyone wanted them.
Among the many distinctions awarded, five Nisei soldiers received Medals of Honor for their action in the Vosges: George “Joe” Sakato, Barney Hajiro, James Okubo, Robert Kuroda and Joe Nishimoto.
In 1962, Texas Governor John Connolly paid tribute to the entire unit by making all Texans honorary.
