Analysis And Accomplishments Of The 442nd

There was widespread praise for the 442nd -- its heritage, determination, loyalty and self-sacrifice. General George C. Marshall (Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State and the third U.S. Secretary of Defense) enthusiastically acclaimed the 442nd saying, "I had the honor to command the men of the 442nd Combat Team . . . [who] fought magnificently in the field of battle and wrote brilliant chapters in the military history of our country. They were superb! That word correctly describes it: superb! They took terrific casualties. They showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit . . . and everybody wanted them" (qtd. in “442nd Regimental Combat Team.” the 442.org, 2015). General Mark W. Clark commanded the 5th Army and the 442nd
in Odo) writes, “they demonstrated conclusively the loyalty and valor of our American citizens of Japanese ancestry in combat." Major General E.M. Almond, acknowledged the 442nd contributions to World War II successes and objected to their treatment when returning to the U.S.: "The Nisei troops are among the best in the United States Army and the respect and the appreciation due honorable, loyal, and courageous soldiers should be theirs rather than the scorn and ridicule they have been receiving from some thoughtless and uninformed citizens and veterans" (qtd. in “442nd Regimental Combat Team.” the 442.org, 2015). "The members of the Combat Team have made a magnificent record of which they and all Americans should be proud. This record, without a doubt, is the most important single factor in creating in this country a more understanding attitude toward the people of Japanese descent," wrote Harold L. Ickes, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (qtd. in “442nd Regimental Combat Team,” 2005). On the July 15, 1946, President Harry Truman (qtd. in McIlvaine and in Odo) reviewed the 442nd and confirmed their loyalty: "You fought the enemy abroad and you fought prejudice at home and you won," he
Although he grew up in Huntington Beach, California, which is not a Japanese cultural center, Yankee catcher Kyle Higashioka knows about the heritage and experiences of his Japanese father, Ted, and his grandfather, Shigeru. Shigeru served proudly in the 442nd Infantry Regiment and earned a Bronze Star for his courage. Meanwhile, Shigeru’s family was in an internment camp. Despite the confinement, Ted comments “the feeling I got from my parents was it was no ill feelings. . . . It was just a sign of the times. He [Shigeru] was just being a good American, but I never heard him be bitter about what happened. I guess, in a way, that was kind of the Japanese way. They just endured it”