WW II U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team 105mm Howitzer, France 1944

WW II U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team 105mm Howitzer, France 1944

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This photo was taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer near Bruyeres, France 18 October 1944. It shows a 105mm Howitzer crew from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team lobbing shells at German positions in support of an infantry attack. The Signal Corps photo ID number is on the lower right.

The 442nd was notable for being composed of Japanese-American volunteers who were sent to the ETO so their Japanese ancestry would not be a conflict, as Army strategists thought it might be if they had to fight Japanese in the Pacific. This was an improvement over attitudes early in the war when Nisei who volunteered were classified as "enemy alien" and were rejected.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team participated in major battles in Italy and France. Its soldiers earned many decorations for individual courage as well as unit performance.

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