Monument Details

442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Battalion Medal of Honor Memorial

Details:

In the small park near the flagpoles. Monument

A white marble pedestal about 4 feet high with two inscribed brass plaques.

The monument remembers the 21 Japanese-Americans who fought with the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team (and 100^th Infantry Battalion) who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II in both France and Italy. The monument sits in the hills where the 442^nd fought in the latter stages of the battle of the Gothic Line in April 1945.

The park in which the monument resides (which was also inaugurated in the ceremony) overlooks Mount Musatello, where then-Lieutenant Daniel Inouye led an assault on enemy positions and was recognized for his bravery with the Medal of Honor. The monument, designed by local artist, Dr. Giuseppe Segreto, features the listing of the 21 Medal of Honor recipients with an enlargement of the Medal of Honor.

Actions in this area are described in the book by Davide Del Giudice, military historian and author, "The Breaching of the Gothic Line in Massa and Versilia".

The monument was dedicated in 2010.

The 442^nd Infantry Regiment - The Most Decorated Unit

The 442nd Regiment of Japanese-Americans would go on to be one the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare. The 4,000 men who initially made up the unit in April 1943 had to be replaced nearly 2.5 times. In total, about 14,000 men served, earning 9,486 Purple Hearts.. The unit was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations (5 earned in one month).¹ Twenty-one of its members were awarded Medals of Honor. Its motto was "Go for Broke". They proved their loyalty to the United States of American in its greatest time of need like no other.

"Americanism is not and has never been a matter of race or color.
Americanism is a matter of mind and heart."

- FDR

SEE THIS WEBSITE FOR OTHER SITES RELATED TO THE 100^TH BATTALION AND 442^ND COMBAT REGIMENTAL TEAM

ITALY: San Angelo Theodice; Filignano; Pietrasanta; Camp Darby (Private Masato “Curley” Nakae Memorial and Square); Tendola; Monte Folgorito

FRANCE: Biffontaine; Biffontaine Town Hall; Laval Woods; Bruyeres

Monument Text:

The monument includes two inscribed portion, an upper and a lower. The upper portion is the image of the Medal of Honor.

The lower portion is written in English and reads:

THE 21 JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II

442^ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM AND 100^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPENETS

EUROPE

BARNEY F. HAJIRO