100th Infantry Battalion (United States)

100th Infantry Battalion
Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 442nd Infantry Regiment
Active1942–1946
1947–present
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Army
TypeInfantry battalion
Size5 Companies
Garrison/HQFort Shafter
Nickname(s)"Purple Heart Battalion"
"One-Puka-Puka"
Motto(s)Go For Broke[1]
Remember Pearl Harbor
EngagementsWorld War II
Vietnam War
Iraq War[2]
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation (Army) (5)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) (2)
Commanders
Current
commander		LTC Robert B. Kepa
Command Sergeant MajorCSM John I. Keawe
Insignia
Coat of arms of the 442nd Infantry Regiment
Shoulder sleeve insignia and combat service identification badge of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment[3]

The 100th Infantry Battalion (Japanese: 第100歩兵大隊,[4][5][6][7] Dai Hyaku Hohei Daitai) is the only infantry unit in the United States Army Reserve. In World War II, the then-primarily Nisei battalion was composed largely of former members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. The 100th saw heavy combat during World War II, starting in September 1943 and continuing after being attached as a battalion of the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) in June 1944.[8] The 100th Infantry Battalion joined the 442nd RCT at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in April 1943 for a year of infantry training.[9][10] The unit was unofficially nicknamed the Purple Heart Battalion, with the motto "Remember Pearl Harbor".[11] "Before it left Mississippi, the 100th was given permission to use the slogan it wanted, "Go For Broke," which is the crapshooters' cry to "shoot the works," and risk it all.[10][12][13]

Quote: [Nearly a century later,] "the "Remember Pearl Harbor" 100th Infantry Battalion, and the "Go For Broke" 442d Regimental Combat Team is still the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. Members of this World War II unit earned over 18,000 individual decorations including over 4,000 Purple Hearts, and 21 Medals of Honor. The Combat Team earned five Presidential Citations in 20 days of Rhineland fighting, the only military unit ever to claim that achievement. General of the Army George C. Marshall praised the team saying, "they were superb: the men of the 100/442d... showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit... everybody wanted them." General Mark W. Clark (Fifth Army) said, "these are some the best... fighters in the U.S. Army. If you have more, send them over.""[14][13]

Based at Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii, the 100th Battalion continues the legacy of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, officially designated as 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment. The 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment has maintained an alignment with the active 25th Infantry Division since a reorganization in 1972. This alignment has resulted in the 100th's mobilization for combat duty in the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. The 100th Infantry Battalion is staffed with reservists from Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan and Washington. The battalion is subordinate to the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, itself under the 9th Mission Support Command.[15]

  1. ^ "442nd Regimental Combat Team Legacy Website". www.the442.org.
  2. ^ Terry Shima (23 January 2006). ""Go For Broke" Battalion Returns Home From Second Overseas Combat Mission. Made Significant Contribution to Defeat Terrorism and to Democratize Iraq". Japanese American Veterans Association. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Colors and Insignia". 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ^ Shimpo, Rafu (8 April 2021). "日系兵士の記念切手発行：偉業をたたえ全米で式典も". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. ^ 第100歩兵大隊 "| NVL - Nisei Veterans Legacy". Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  6. ^ "ハワイ日本文化センターで知る日系人の歴史(2世、第442連隊)—「ハワイと日本、人々の歴史」第12回". ハフポスト. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. ^ "ミネタ全米日系人博物館理事長一行による河野外務大臣表敬". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ Helmly, James R. (October 2006). "Changing to a 21st–century Army Reserve". ARMY Magazine. United States Army: 108.
  9. ^ "442nd Regimental Combat Team Legacy Website". www.the442.org. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b "100th Infantry Battalion | Densho Encyclopedia". 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. ^ "100th Infantry Battalion | Densho Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on 11 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Going For Broke: The 442nd Regimental Combat Team". The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b "442nd Regimental Combat Team Legacy Website". www.the442.org. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. ^ Shenkle, Kathryn (May 2006). "Patriots under Fire: Japanese Americans in World War II". United States Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2014.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ^ CurrentOps.com. "100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment". currentops.com. Retrieved 17 November 2024.