Before going to Italy, the 442nd went to France. However, General Mark Clark requested the 442nd's return to Italy to break the Gothic Line. The 442nd took the German SS Troop by surprise when they attacked from the rear.

When the 442nd left Italy, the 552nd Artillery stayed behind. Later the 552nd went to Germany and were the first in Dachau.

The worst part of the war for Tetsuo was the casualties. He recalls several times he came across deceased soldiers. Another bad memory of the war was being under heavy fire.

When the war ended, Tetsuo got a pass and went to Switzerland and different rest areas. The highlight was Angelburg because he learned how to ski. Many years later, Tetsuo revisited Switzerland in the springtime.
]]> Asato, Tetsuo; narrator]]> Horsting, Robert; interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center; publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002-11-29]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California]]>
Before going overseas, Henry visits his family in Amache and has a bad experience. He describes the living conditions and treatment. Also, Henry gets married to his wife in Chicago.

In Italy, Henry is in the last push. He describes his time in the European Theater and the learning of Joe's death. Chiye Hayashi Watanabe and Seiichi Nakawatase also discuss learning about Joe's death. Joe Hayashi is awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguish Service Medal, and Medal of Honor for his service in World War Two.
]]> Watanabe, Chiye: narrator]]> Hayashi, Henry: narrator]]> Nakawatase, Seiichi: narrator]]> Yuge, Tim: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Oral Histories]]>
After completing his basic training at Camp Shelby, Minoru traveled to Tule Lake to visit his father. When Minoru left Tule Lake, he boarded a bus, and the passengers applauded him. The experience was different from what the African Americans experienced in the South.

From New York, Minoru and his brother, John, departed to go overseas. A winter storm on the Atlantic Ocean caused a rough voyage for the soldiers. During the trip, German submarines were spotted in the ocean. Therefore, the Aquitania took a detour to Glasgow, Scotland, instead of England.

Minoru joined the 442nd in the South of France. When he was not a mortarman, he was a litter carrier picking up wounded Nisei. In Italy, Minoru fought with the Allied troops and the 92nd Division. Minoru recalls artillery fire from the German soldier. He describes the battle on top of Mount Fogarito.]]> Miyasaki, Minoru: narrator]]> Garvey, John: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
Dan goes to Camp Blanding, Jacksonville, Florida, for basic training. Basic training is for seventeen weeks long. In Florida, Dan learns about Jim Crow and segregation. Dan shares a story about racism.

He goes to northern Italy in 1945. Dan is assigned to the Rifle Platoon, Company C, 100th Battalion. The 442nd at the time has lost hundreds of men in the Bruyeres Campaign and are resting in Menton while waiting for replacements. Dan joins the 442nd in January 1945. In April 1945, they go to Northern Italy for the final push.

Dan recalls Platoon Sergeant Burt Tanaka allowing him to switch assignments. Three days later, Dan leaves the Riflemen Platoon and joins is in the Weapons Platoon as an ammunition carrier.

During the war in Italy, Dan carries a magazine with him that brings him comfort during combat. He discusses the disadvantages in the Italian Campaign and the life of an Army soldier during wartimes.

When the German soldiers surrender, Dan's company is assigned to guard the prisoners of war. Dan gets to know some of them and says they are nice people. For his service in the Army, Dan receives a Combat Infantryman Badge for 90 days of combat. He also receives a badge for his efforts in the Italian Campaign. In 1945, the atomic bomb is drop-in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and Dan is still in Italy. Dan is not discharged until 1946. ]]> Uchimoto, Dan: narrator]]> Garvey, John: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Oral Histories]]>
Raymond C. Wells is born May 5, 1922, in Eagle Colorado. Julian Minor Quayles, Jr is born January 15, 1917, in Staunton, Virginia. Both men serve in the 141st Infantry Battalion during World War Two.

Ray's and Julian's parents are hardworking to provide for the family. Ray's father works on the railroad. As a result, the Wells family moves around New Mexico. Julian's father retires when Julian is born and has many opportunities for bonding time.

Both men discuss their childhood and school years. In their informal years, they begin their military experiences. Ray joins the National Guards at the age of sixteen. Julian attends Augusta Military Academy at Fort Defiance.

Ray describes his National Guard training and active duty in 1940. He recalls December 7, and Rapido River. ]]> Wells, Ray: narrator]]> Quayles, Julian: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Oral Histories]]>
Raymond C. Wells is born May 5, 1922, in Eagle Colorado. Julian Minor Quayles, Jr is born January 15, 1917, in Staunton, Virginia. Both men serve in the 141st Infantry Battalion during World War Two.

Ray's and Julian's parents are hardworking to provide for the family. Ray's father works on the railroad. As a result, the Wells family moves around New Mexico. Julian's father retires when Julian is born and has many opportunities for bonding time.

Both men discuss their childhood and school years. In their informal years, they begin their military experiences. Ray joins the National Guards at the age of sixteen. Julian attends Augusta Military Academy at Fort Defiance.

Ray describes his National Guard training and active duty in 1940. He recalls December 7, and Rapido River. ]]> Quayles, Julian: narrator]]> Wells, Ray: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Oral Histories]]> World War II--European Theater]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> World War II--Combat--Weapons--Artillery]]> Tsuji, Isami Mike: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2003 September 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> World War II--European Theater--Rhineland Campaign, Vosges--"Rescue of the Lost Battalion"]]> World War II--France]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]>
Overseas at the European Theater, Toyota recalls being pulled off the line for ten days of rest. After Toyota showers, he receives the news there is a troop trap on top of the hill and needs rescuing. On October 25, Toyota and his company go rescue the Lost Battalion on the same day as his birthday. The rescue is all up hill fighting that consists of an all rifle company and motor company. At this time, Toyota is attach to 35 Division and Company I leads the the company. It takes five days until reach on top of mountain.

During the rescue of the Lost Battalion, the weather is cold, rainy, and snowy. Toyota is one of the first five men that makes contact with the Texans. The next order Toyota receives is to set up a road block and Maritime Alps reconnaissance patrol. Toyota recalls getting wounds and being hospitalized for frost bite and trench foot.

While Toyota is in the European Theater, his family is in Poston at block 213. ]]> Toyota, Kameo: narrator]]> Kunitomi, Darrell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 November 17]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]>
At Camp Shelby, the summer was hot, and the winter was cold. The winter was chiller, especially for the Hawaiian soldiers. Frank recalls the Hawaiian boys would sit by the fire all night. In training, Frank learned about the 100th and their accomplishments. The 100th trained at Camp Shelby before going overseas fall of 1943.

After Frank's group completed basic training, they joined the earlier group to form a company at Camp Shelby. Serving in the Army, Frank wanted to show the Government he was a good American. He felt that was the same sentiment with the other Japanese Americans serving in the army.

When Frank prepared to go overseas, he departed from Newport News, VA. The trip took a month, avoiding the German submarines. Frank arrived in Sicily, Italy, first. Overseas, Frank was in the 3rd Platoon, 3rd Squad. He recalls his first battle and seeing his first casualty. Frank describes his third day in combat with the German soldiers.

Frank's major battles were Rome-Arno and Rhineland. During the Hill 140 battle, Frank was in the 3rd Platoon, 3rd Squad, the Platoon Reserve hauling ammunition during the battle on Hill 140. There were many casualties from hill 140. After Hill 140, there were no more battles until Luciana.


]]> Shimada, Sumio Frank: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
Don is in holding a position in France for four months. This period is called the "Champagne Campaign." Don explains how the name originates. After the hold, Don goes to Italy to the front lines for the Gothic Line.

In Po Valley, Don recalls squad members that are wounded in action and killed in action and his assignment.]]> Miyada, Don: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Ken's first battle was on Mount Fogarito. In the Headquarters Platoon, Ken did various assignments. One job was to be a litter-bearer and carry the wounded soldiers off the battlefield. Ken discusses the risk of being a litter-bearer. His friend Tom Nishimoto died when he was a litter-bearer carrying Captain Cassey down the mountain.

Another job was escorting POWs down the mountain. Ken, Norbori, and Chizuo Uyeda took the POWs down and were attacked by mortar shells. They were not hit, but one of the POWs was wounded.

After Mount Fogarito, the Company marched into Carrera, Italy, and he recalls the townspeople were happy to see them. Ken was in combat with the German soldiers for several weeks until Genova.

Post-war, Ken was assigned to ship the German POWs back to Germany. The group was divided into two modes of transports truck and train. Ken and his men were on the train convoy, and they had to watch 400 POWs.]]> Nihei, Ken: narrator]]> Hanamura, Wendy: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>