Japanese American Military History The 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II First Edition History with Original Photograph 1946

442nd Regimental Combat Team

First Edition

Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team served with extraordinary distinction during World War II despite the widespread incarceration of Japanese Americans in the United States following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Composed primarily of Nisei soldiers—second generation Japanese Americans—many of whom volunteered for military service while their families remained confined in relocation camps, the 442nd became one of the most celebrated units of the war. Their record of combat service in Europe, particularly in Italy and France, established the unit as the most decorated for its size and length of service in United States military history. This volume documents the wartime experience of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and reflects the extraordinary achievements of Japanese American soldiers serving in segregated units during World War II.

Shirey, Orville C. Americans: The Story of the 442nd Combat Team. Washington: Infantry Journal Press, December 1946. First edition hardcover measuring approximately 8.75 x 11.25 inches and extending to 151 pages. The book contains numerous black and white photographic illustrations and several color maps documenting the combat operations of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European theater. Included with the volume is an original black and white silver gelatin photograph depicting 442nd soldiers standing in formation in a field holding rifles and flags. The text provides a detailed account of the regiment’s wartime campaigns including the Rome Arno Campaign, the Battle of Bruyères, the Champagne Campaign, operations in the Po Valley, and the Allied landings in southern France. The volume also records the regiment’s decorations, battle honors, and the names of officers and enlisted men along with their awards. Illustrations depict soldiers advancing through shelled terrain, machine gun crews in defensive positions, communications teams maintaining field telephone lines, and key moments of combat including Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye attacking an enemy machine gun position with a Thompson submachine gun. In the introduction Shirey summarizes the reputation of the regiment: “The record of these men speaks for itself. The Nisei, as individuals and as a unit, rank with the greatest soldiers who ever served their country in time of war.”

The history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team represents one of the most significant chapters in Japanese American military history. Organized in 1943 and composed largely of volunteers from Hawaii and the continental United States, the regiment fought with exceptional distinction despite the discrimination and suspicion directed toward Japanese Americans during the war. Their actions in Italy and France—including the famous rescue of the “Lost Battalion” in the Vosges Mountains—became emblematic of the loyalty and sacrifice of Japanese American soldiers during a period when their own families faced forced relocation and incarceration in the United States. First edition volume accompanied by an original silver gelatin photograph of the unit. Book clean with tight textblock; no dust jacket present; protective mylar cover supplied. Overall condition very good.

Item #20305

Price: $1,200.00