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Go For Broke Ken Riege
Go For Broke
The Story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team AKA: The Purple Heart Battalion
By Ken Riege USAF Veteran
TThere are many sayings from the military that have made their way into modern culture and conversations: “Go for Broke” is one of them. The focus on my next story will be on how different military phrases have become a part of our everyday language. However, this story is focusing on what is considered the most decorated unit in the US Army’s
History: The 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This unit was called “The Purple Heart Battalion,” for one reason only. They received more Purple Heart Medals during their fighting (of less than 2 years) in WW2 than any other unit (based upon their size) and more Medals of Honor were conferred on this unit than any other unit (again based upon their size).
I have had the extreme honor of meeting a few of these great warriors including our very own Mr. Hiroshi
“Hershey” Miyamura. As a matter of fact, Hershey went through Basic Training with Mr. George Sakato who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during WW2.
Unfortunately, due to prejudice of the day, Mr. Sakato was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross (The US
Army’s second highest medal for valor).
However, on 21 June 2000 President Clinton presented Mr.
Sakato with our nation’s highest medal for valor, The Medal of Honor. I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Sakato, but
I did accompany Hershey to Mr. Sakato’s funeral. At the funeral, Mr. Sakato’s daughter, Leslie shared the story of when her father found out that he was going to be receiving the Medal of Honor. Apparently when Mr. Sakato was told that he could only bring 5 people with him to the ceremony at the White House, he scuffed a bit and told them, “You know what, if I can only bring 5 people just mail me the damn thing.” Then he hung up the phone.
Moments later there was another call from the White
House telling him he could bring whomever he wanted.
So back to the title of the story, “Go for Broke” and what does that mean. This was the unit’s motto and the title of the 1951 film, “Go for Broke.” I found that the official explanation for this quote is: To Take a big risk, regardless of the possibility of losing everything.
I am sure in the case of the 442nd, their big risk, regardless of the possibility of losing everything, was the loss of one’s life or their buddies’ lives. Here are some interesting facts about this amazing unit:
The 4,000 men who signed up in April 1943 had to be replaced nearly 2.5 times and in total, almost 14,000 men served in this unit.
The 442nd was awarded 8 (yes 8) Presidential Unit Citations. They earned 5 of those in one month. 21 members of the 442nd earned the Medal of Honor and in all over 18,000 awards were presented to this unit in less than 2 years. 5 April is celebrated as national “Go For Broke Day.” This is in honor of PFC. Sadao Munemori, who was the first Medal of Honor Recipient of the 442nd, having distinguished himself on 5 April 1945. Sadly, PFC Munemori’s MOH was awarded posthumously.
On 5 October 2010, Congress approved the granting of the Congressional Gold Medal to the 442nd RCT, the 100th Infantry Battalion and Nisei serving in the Military Intelligence Service. This award was presented collectively on 2 November 2011.
There are so many more interesting facts about this amazing unit that can be found on their website: the442.org
Here are a couple of books that were presented to me a few years ago by author and photographer Mr. Shane Sato.
In this book on page 84/85 is someone who is very well known and loved. It’s our very own Hershey.
Trivia question for everyone: How do you know that you have become a superstar? Well, when GI Joe makes you an action figure that’s when.
This is the last picture I wanted to share. This is a print that was made showing all the members of the 442nd RCT who received the Medal of Honor. This is on display at the Comfort Suites Gallup.
