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The 100th Battalion
The original 100th Battalion was a group of Americans of Japanese ancestry who had enlisted in the National Guard in Hawaii. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, it was thought that Hawaii was Japan's next target. This made many Americans wary of Japanese-Americans, including those who enlisted. This caused unfair treatment from the government by segregating the 100th from the rest of the American troops. Instead, they were sent for extensive training stateside, where one-stop included Fort McCoy in Sparta WI. After over a year of training, the battalion showed excellency in the field and was eventually sent on a tour overseas.
The 100th Battalion's Tour Overseas
The 100th Battalion's Tour Overseas
Tour Stops:
Naples-Foggia
September 22, 1943 - February 11, 1944.
During this campaign the 100th had many casualties leaving 520 soldiers to continue out of the original 1300.
Anzio
March 26 - June 2, 1944
The 100th meets up with the 442nd to make up numbers of those lost in the last campain.
Rome - Arno River
June 21 - September 4, 1944
The 100th earns the first Presidential Unit Citation for capturing Belvedere in three hours after the 442nd struggled to advance since it was their first combat experience.
Northern Apennines
September 10, 1944 - April 1945
The 100th and the 442nd work together to break the what is known at the Gothic Line.
Rhineland
September 29, 1944 - March 21, 1945
The 100th is presented with their second presidential citation for their participation in heavy combat. Between the 100th and the 442nd they suffer from 800 casualties.
Po Valley
April 5 - May 2, 1945
100th formed a special force group known as Task Force Fukuda. Between this special forces led by Major Mits Fukuda and the 442nd they break through the Gothic line. This earned the 100th their third Presidential Citation.
Courtesy of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Education Center
Photo Courtesy of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Education Center
Harry H. Miyamoto
Harry H. Miyamoto
The 100th battalion was a group of around 1,400 Japanese-American national Guard troops from Hawaii. After the attacks at Pearl Harbor they were recruited and sent to California, being placed in the 100th battalion. Due to segregation, they trained away from their fellow, white soldiers and often exceeded them. Due to this, they were offered volunteer options for the 442nd regimental combat team to be sent overseas for specialty missions.
On June 16th 1942 Harry H. Miyamoto, along with the rest of the 100th battalion arrived at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin for MIS training. He served with the 100th through all training eventually serving overseas with the 442nd. After being wounded in Italy he returned to Fort McCoy to work as a translator for interment camps, eventually settling down in La Crosse.
An Interview with Bud Miyamoto, Harry Miyamoto's Son.
An Interview with Bud Miyamoto, Harry Miyamoto's Son.
In the interview, Bud talks about his father's experience in the 100th Battalion and the war. Bud also describes his experiences growing up as a Japanese American during this time.
Listening Points:
00:00 - 04:20 - Bud explains his father's experiences serving in World War II and the 100th Battalion.
Interview courtesy of the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Oral History Program.
100th Battalion at Fort McCoy
Although most of these photos are of soldiers stay while they were at Fort McCoy, a few of them depict life overseas and coming home.
Photo Courtesy of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Education Center
Photo Courtesy of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Education Center
Isaac Akinaka's Diary and Experiences in the 100th Battalion
Isaac Akinaka's Diary and Experiences in the 100th Battalion
Entering the 100th as a volunteer, Issac started off as a radio operator and later became a medic due to shortage. He was an avid writer and kept multiple diarys throughout his life adding up to seven volumes. Later in he life he decided to published an autobiography which included what his time with the 100th was like.
To see all of Isaac's diaries and autobiography, visit the Personal Account of Isaac Akinaka
To see more information, photos and accounts from the 100th Battalion click the link https://www.100thbattalion.org/ or scan the QR code!
Kayla Price, Lauren Brewer, Margaret Hansen, Missy Winter, Wyatt Molling
Created Spring 2022
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