Go for Broke: A Pictorial History of the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 44 2d Regimental Combat Team [Hardcover]

Chester Tanaka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 1997

These little men of iron made the 100th/442nd the most highly decorated combat unit in American military history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Go For Broke is a pictorial history of the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442d Regimental Combat Team active in the World War II European theatre. The Japanese-American Nisei warriors fighting on the side of American and the Allies earned 9,486 purple hearts and numbered 680 of their comrades in arms as killed in action. Their individual decorations for bravery include a Congressional Medal of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 588 Silver Stars, and 5,200 Bronze Stars. Their unit recognitions include 87 Division Commendations, 36 Army Commendations, and a truly remarkable seven Presidential Unit Citations. These fighting men were allowed to volunteer while being male Japanese-American internees as the result of a war-time hysteria which had resulted in the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans (70,000 of whom were native-born American citizens) into ten concentration camps scattered around the United States. Go For Broke is a unique military history and a Japanese-American triumph. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (April 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891416307
• ISBN-13: 978-0891416302
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,382,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent regimental history., November 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Go for Broke: A Pictorial History of the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 44 2d Regimental Combat Team (Hardcover)

The Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442ndRegimental Combat Team were among the finest units of World War II.Their astonishing exploits, decorations awarded, and casualties taken are legendary, but when the cheering subsided the discrimination they and their families suffered did not disappear.
Their story is well told here in this fine pictorial record of their achievements, with 240 photos, 8 maps, and informative endpapers, tied together with a good narrative, to form an admirable tribute to these brave soldiers.
Highly recommended for military history readers, students of the ETO campaign, and WWII buffs in general.

(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of this page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great volume about AJA in WWII, December 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Go for Broke: A Pictorial History of the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 44 2d Regimental Combat Team (Hardcover)

If you wish to own a single book about the contributions of the 100/442 this is it.

This book probably should rate at least 588 stars. 588 stars because that is the number of Silver Stars won by these fine AMERICAN fighting men in WWII.

A lot of folks probably know the 100/442 was the most decorated unit in WWII. In fact, this fighting team was the most decorated unit in AMERICAN history. This great volume goes a long way to perhaps explaining why this was so. These AJA men were fighting a two front war. Hitler and Germany tried this and failed. The fighting men of the 100/442 prevailed on both fronts they were fighting on. These men proved their were good Americans with their bravery and with their blood.

Mr. Tanaka knows, he was there! He was one of the few men to make it through all of the major campaigns with the 100/442. His personal experiences appear to have been invaluable in putting the story together.

The men of the 100/442 had the Germans and their allies to deal with in Europe and the stupidly cruel actions of the American government and people to deal with back in the US and they prevailed.

Mr. Tanaka skillfully weaves first person remembrances into the story, and this coupled with the many fine pictures personalizes the AJA men of the 100/442 and the two battle fronts they were engaged on in WWII. The reader will come away knowing war is hell if they had missed the point before. The reader will come away with the idea that courage and spirit applied in liberal doses to any situation will win out.

Mr. Tanaka's book provides a fitting tribute to those members of the 100/442 who did not live to come home, men who fought and died while their families were imprisoned back at home.