#660-663 Creation of the 442nd Regiment
Fun Fact #660
Pearls and Perils
In 1795, “King Kamehameha I” had done the impossible and unified The newly minted Kingdom of Hawaii, however some issues arose. They did not have a strong international presence making them vulnerable to the Whaling industry and other powers which might seek to take their strategic location in the Pacific. Knowing this they soon arranged to be (what they thought was) a protectorate of The United Kingdom and even unofficially flew The Union Jack both at home and abroad. They also obtained a few criminals from Botany bay to build “The Brick Palace” where the Kingdom of Hawaii ruled until 1845.
Yet there was an issue, as although the country was supposed to receive support from Britain against foreign powers, groups from Japan, England and even Spain helped organize several successful revolts in the years which followed until The Kingdom of Hawaii sought a different ally. As it just so happened there were rising tensions at the time between the would-be rebels from Spain and another Power : The United States of America. Thus on January 20th, 1887 Pearl Harbor was leased to The United States. About 10 years later The US would see the conclusion of those tensions with Spain in The Spanish-American War resulting in the End of Spain’s Possessions in the Americas, Asia, and The Pacific.
As for what became of Hawaii? During the war Pearl harbor was expanded from an obscure port to the main staging area for the Pacific fleet and brought wealth and notoriety to Hawaii. Yet they had suffered 4 more revolutions before the last known as “The Safety Committee" (of 13 men) was successful. As a result The US deemed there were too many revolutions going on, and just annexed the territory in July 1898. Despite the fact Japan sent warships to oppose it, the annexation was successful.
Political Cartoon from 1898 in regards to Both The Annexation of Hawaii (Known as the Sandwich Islands) and the territories given up by Spain after their war with the US.
Fun Fact #661
The Treaty of Portsmouth
In 1905 Japan was at war with Russia, and better still, they were winning. Despite their long string of successes however, their supply lines were growing longer everyday, and their military was still much smaller than Russia’s.Worse still the Russian was gaining combatants in the area every day. Thus a prolonged war seemed grim to The Japanese Military.
However they weren't the only ones suffering, as the Russian people were deeply upset by the long string of defeats (such as the Disaster of Tsushima which saw the obliteration of The Russian Destroyer Fleet) and revolutionary ideas began the formation of the groups that would one day establish The Soviet Union. Aware of the growing dissent at home Russia sought a quick end to the war.
Thus US President Theodore Roosvelt’s request to mediate peace talks was accepted and 12 sessions took place in Kittery, Maine. Ultimately neither side was happy with the results, but it allowed Russia to avoid civil war (for now), by blaming the land concessions on the American handling of the negotiations. The Japanese Public however were outraged. They had seen Japan’s long string of victories, but not the dangerously stretched supply lines and viewed a peace treaty with few Russian land successions, and no reparations as outright theft and embarrassment on a global scale.
Then there were the Koreans who weren't even allowed a seat at the negotiations despite the US having a friendship agreement with the US before they were invaded by Japan during the war. As a result Japan kept the Korean peninsula, and Koreans of this era viewed America as a “Fair-weather Friend” who should never be trusted.
Painting of The Battle of Tsushima by Tōjō Shōtarō, 1905
Fun Fact #662
The Gannenmono
In 1861 The Kingdom of Hawaii received their first permanent immigrants from Japan. This group was known as The Gannenmono. They worked hard on the Island of Oahu (Hawaii’s 4th largest island) and quickly became one of the largest minorities of the island chain.
Then in December 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by The Imperial Japanese Navy resulting in the sinking of the majority of the Pacific Fleet. Due to a fear of their strong ties to their homeland over 100,000 Japanese Americans were detained in California by The US Government. Yet in Hawaii, the descendants of the Gannenmono (known as Nisei) escaped this same fate. The reason for this is owed to the fact they were well trusted in this region, having close familial relations with the rest of Hawaii. Thus instead of imprisonment a number of Nisei formed the 442nd Infantry Regiment. Because they were reinforced by volunteer Nisei from continental Internment camps, the Regiment soon began to see this as their one opportunity to earn the freedom of their families back home leading to their Regiment motto “Go for Broke”.
Sinking of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor
Fun Fact #663
“Go For Broke”
After being trained in Shelby, Mississippi, The 442nd Infantry Regiment was deployed into The European Theater where –to be quite frank– they kicked butt. After the 100th Battalion (under the 442nd) achieved 5 Presidential Unit Citations in a single month (a record unbroken today) General Mark W. Clark said “...These are some of The best fighters in The US Army. If you have more, send them over.
They also developed an unusual ability, namely they seemed very adept at locating and liberating Concentration camps including most of the 100 sub-camps of Dachau (the First Concentration camp constructed by The Germany) and locating the main camp for other units to liberate.
Today The 442nd Infantry Regiment is known for being The Most Decorated Regiment in US History with 9,486 Purple Hearts, 5,200 Bronze Stars, 21 Medals of Honor, and 8 presidential unit Citations in just WW2 alone. The unit still exists today and is the only Ground Combat unit of the Army Reserve (Headquartered in Fort Shafer, Hawaii with subordinate units spread throughout US territories in the Pacific).
(Interesting Tidbit: Because of their notoriety, and their start as “underdogs” being mistrusted even by their own side only to become Heroes, The 442nd have been referenced in many different works of Fiction, games and toys including in Star Wars. Heck until recently the Real life 442nd even had Lego-compatible Microfigures made by Hasbro under the Megaconstrux company.)
