'Go For Broke' reservists mobilized

Deep Web Diver · #1 (**permalink**) August 5th, 2004, 04:52 AM

Army News Service: 'Go For Broke' Reservists mobilize with Hawaii National Guard, Aug. 3, 2004

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One of the Army's most decorated units and the Army Reserve's only ground combat unit is prepping for mobilization and eventual deployment to Iraq.

The 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, Army Reserve, will round out the Hawaii National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade as it mobilizes Aug. 16 and moves to Fort Bliss, Texas, by the end of the month for deployment training, per Department of Defense mobilization orders signed July 16. ...

The 100th Inf. Bn. of the 442nd draws its lineage from World War II's 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It conducted combat operations in the European theater during the war.

The 100th was the first all-Japanese-American combat unit and was made up of mostly National Guardsmen from Hawaii. They were already fighting in Italy when the also mostly Japanese-American 442nd was formed. The 442nd joined the 100th in Italy in June of 1944 and by August, the 100th had become the first battalion of the 442nd.

Since their first action in World War II, Soldiers of the 442nd not only acquired the motto "Go for Broke," but also more than 18,000 individual decorations. Among the 18,000 are 33 Distinguished Service Crosses, 559 Silver Stars, 28 Oak Leaf Clusters to the Silver Star, 4,000 Bronze Stars and 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters to the Bronze Star and nearly 9,500 Purple Hearts. The 442nd was also recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation eight times.

Until 2000, the achievements of 100th and 442nd only included one Medal of Honor. Former President Bill Clinton changed that in 2000 when he awarded 22 Medals of Honor to Asian-Pacific Army World War II veterans. The belated medals were given after the Army reviewed war records and found 22 Soldiers were awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross when they were actually deserving of a Medal of Honor. Nineteen of the 22 were Soldiers in the 100th and 442nd, giving the 442nd a total of 20 Medals of Honor. ...

[ 21. August 2004, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Deep Web Diver ]

Deep Web Diver · #2 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2004, 04:29 PM

Army News Service: Samoan Reservists answer the call to duty, Aug. 20, 2004.

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In a display of whole island community support, nearly 3000 citizens from local villages, along with friends and family members gathered in the maintenance bay of the soon to be completed new Army Reserve Center to honor the Army Reserve Soldiers of Company's B and C, 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Regiment.

The newly activated Army Reserve Soldiers will join other Soldiers within the battalion from Saipan and Guam at Schofield Barracks for additional training. The battalion will deploy about 575 Soldiers for mobilization training pn the mainland and be eventually shipped overseas to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment will support Hawaii's Army National Guard's 29th Separate Infantry Brigade while deployed.

In addition to hymns sung by five island high school choirs, the Soldiers heard remarks from a host of military and civilian VIPs to include the American Samoa Governor Togiola T. Tulafono. Tulafono told the Soldiers he was going to introduce bills into the legislature to protect the soldiers' civilian jobs when they return from duty and to improve pay benefits.

Other speakers mentioned the famed "Go For Broke" regiment of World War II, the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, that became the most decorated unit of its size in the war. It is the only battalion-sized unit in the U.S. Army authorized its own shoulder patch.

Sergeant Lang Lagafuaina, a team leader with first squad, third Platoon, B Company, has been in the unit for eight years and has a cousin in C Company. "It is an honor to be in the unit and carry on the 'Go For Broke' tradition," Lagafuaina said. "There is no spirit like the 100th spirit, it has brotherhood spirit."