Japanese American Nisei Soldiers in WW2
While thousands of Japanese American citizens were sent to concentration camps in the American West Coast, others served the country with distinction in combat or as translators.
Nisei is a Japanese term for a person born in America whose parents emigrated from Japan. They were American citizens, often spoke two languages, and only knew life in America.
The army interviewed 5,000 Nisei to act as translators in the war. Those accepted were ironically sent to a special school in Minnesota to better comprehend the customs and language of Japan. Eventually, 3,700 Nisei graduates from the school served in the Pacific, saving many American lives.
Many Nisei also earned distinction in combat during World War 2. An estimated 33,000 Japanese Americans served, mostly in the Army.
In the Philippines, the Nisei provided a valuable service by translating documents obtained from the enemy. When the U.S. was ready to invade the Philippines, the translations had helped the Army garner a comprehensive understanding of the Japanese plans.
A small group of Nisei served in Burma and China in the famous 5307th regiment known as “Merrill's Marauders”. They served as spies, eavesdropped and translated enemy plans, and earned their comrades' admiration for their valor.
Two all-Nisei regiments were formed during World War 2. The first was the 100th Infantry Battalion of Hawaii, which was made up mostly of former members of the Hawaii Army National Guard.
The 100th saw heavy combat in Italy, starting in September 1943 and earned the nickname the Purple Heart Battalion due to how many members of it were awarded the decoration.
The 442nd Infantry Regiment was another segregated unit of Nisei soldiers and later merged with the 100th. It included over 1,500 volunteers from Japanese internment camps and eventually over 10,000 men. Beginning in 1944, the 442nd saw brutal combat in Italy, southern France, and Germany.
The 442nd is best known as the most decorated regiment in U.S. military history. The 442nd and 100th combined to earn over 18,000 awards in less than two years, including 4,000 Purple Hearts and 4,000 Bronze Stars.
Included among them was Daniel Inouye, who lost his arm fighting in Italy. He went on to serve as a U.S. Senator from Hawaii for almost 50 years.
Although Japanese Americans were targets of hostility and persecution at the start of World War 2, as the war progressed American attitudes towards them were changed, due in a large part to the distinguishable military service of the Nisei.