Customer Reviews

Boyhood to War: History and Anecdotes of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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This book is a superior effort at reporting the contributions of American's of Japanese ancestry.

The author presents in a very clear manner the experience of the men of the 442nd Regiment from the time they and there families were interned into concentration camps (most of them anyway), to the mens decision to join the army despite feeling unfairly (justifiably so IMO) discriminated against, through bootcamp and training, through their first and later combat in Itally and Europe, the Pacific and Japan.

The book is written in the oral tradition with many, many first person accounts in the words of the men themselves.

The book concentrates on the stories the men have to tell as soldiers who were there and says litter regarding larger troop movements beyond their regimental level.

As the basis of the book is almost entirely the words spoken by the men themselves it lacks even a hint of bias, and seems very honest and genuine.

It clearly, in the words of the men, presents their strongest feelings of having their patriotism questioned by the country as first generation citizens; and, clearly presents their feelings of accomplishment at having defended their country.

I very highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the story of the soldiers in the European war, and especially for those interested in the Japanese experience as first generation Americans. I was deeply moved many times while reading this book at the extreme loyalty expressed by these men to the United States, and the deep hurt they felt at being wrongly judged a threat to THEIR country.