1 00:00:17,140 --> 00:00:23,581 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey everyone, it is Jared Martinez. 2 00:00:23,781 --> 00:00:26,220 Speaker 2: Before we get into this episode, I wanted to let 3 00:00:26,301 --> 00:00:28,700 Speaker 2: you know that you can listen to the entire season 4 00:00:28,781 --> 00:00:32,620 Speaker 2: of Medal of Honor right now ad free with Pushkin Plus. 5 00:00:33,061 --> 00:00:36,060 Speaker 2: Get all our incredible stories of courage with a Pushkin 6 00:00:36,141 --> 00:00:39,181 Speaker 2: Plus subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of 7 00:00:39,221 --> 00:00:43,220 Speaker 2: Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin dot fm, 8 00:00:43,221 --> 00:00:47,621 Speaker 2: slash Plus. Use the CODEH twenty five for twenty five 9 00:00:47,661 --> 00:00:49,541 Speaker 2: percent off an annual subscription. 10 00:00:50,060 --> 00:00:51,701 Speaker 1: Okay, now to the episode. 11 00:00:55,261 --> 00:00:59,421 Speaker 2: Joe Soccato was crawling through the mud. Just seconds earlier, 12 00:00:59,661 --> 00:01:02,621 Speaker 2: he was shouted to a group of American soldiers. He 13 00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:05,621 Speaker 2: was warning them to watch out for Germans with machine guns. 14 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,861 Speaker 2: This was nineteen forty four and they were in France, 15 00:01:10,141 --> 00:01:14,860 Speaker 2: facing the Notes, struggling through a freezing forest, fighting for 16 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:20,340 Speaker 2: every inch of ground. The enemy started shooting and Joe 17 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:22,461 Speaker 2: washed as bullets hit one of the men and he 18 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,821 Speaker 2: crumpled to the ground. That was one of Joe's best friends. 19 00:01:27,381 --> 00:01:29,780 Speaker 2: So Joe scrambled through the dirt and he slid into 20 00:01:29,821 --> 00:01:33,140 Speaker 2: the shallow trench where his buddy lay. Machine gun fire 21 00:01:33,261 --> 00:01:37,780 Speaker 2: was still ripping through the air. Splintering the trees. Joe 22 00:01:37,821 --> 00:01:41,220 Speaker 2: put his arms around his friend. His blood soaked through 23 00:01:41,301 --> 00:01:44,020 Speaker 2: Joe's clothes and coated his hands. 24 00:01:44,661 --> 00:01:46,541 Speaker 3: And I picked him up, and he's trying to say 25 00:01:46,541 --> 00:01:51,020 Speaker 3: something to mean I was gurgled in the pretty Soon 26 00:01:51,101 --> 00:01:54,181 Speaker 3: his body went limp on me. I knew he died. 27 00:01:56,461 --> 00:02:01,021 Speaker 3: I said that I helped him. Why. 28 00:02:04,141 --> 00:02:06,701 Speaker 2: Joe was a little guy, just over five feet tall, 29 00:02:07,181 --> 00:02:10,101 Speaker 2: not much of an athlete, and he was exhausted after 30 00:02:10,181 --> 00:02:11,541 Speaker 2: days of nonsense, stop fighting. 31 00:02:12,501 --> 00:02:14,541 Speaker 1: But now none of that mattered. 32 00:02:15,381 --> 00:02:18,501 Speaker 3: I wasn't quite in my right sense of mind, but 33 00:02:18,621 --> 00:02:22,741 Speaker 3: I was just mad and crying. I was crying. 34 00:02:24,621 --> 00:02:27,261 Speaker 2: Joe stood up in the trench. He was going to 35 00:02:27,261 --> 00:02:29,101 Speaker 2: face those Germans head on. 36 00:02:32,341 --> 00:02:32,901 Speaker 1: I'm Jr. 37 00:02:32,941 --> 00:02:37,741 Speaker 2: Martinez and this is Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. 38 00:02:37,861 --> 00:02:40,741 Speaker 2: The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in 39 00:02:40,781 --> 00:02:44,621 Speaker 2: the United States. It's awarded for gallantry and bravery and 40 00:02:44,661 --> 00:02:47,381 Speaker 2: combat at the risk of life, above and beyond the 41 00:02:47,381 --> 00:02:50,821 Speaker 2: call of duty. Each candidate must be approved all the 42 00:02:50,821 --> 00:02:53,901 Speaker 2: way up the chain of command, from the supervisory officer 43 00:02:53,941 --> 00:02:57,421 Speaker 2: in the field to the White House. This show is 44 00:02:57,421 --> 00:03:01,301 Speaker 2: about those heroes, what they did, what it meant, and 45 00:03:01,341 --> 00:03:03,861 Speaker 2: what their stories tell us about the nature of courage 46 00:03:03,861 --> 00:03:10,061 Speaker 2: and sacrifice. This episode is about one man, George Saccado. 47 00:03:10,901 --> 00:03:14,061 Speaker 2: His friends called them Joe, but it's also about a 48 00:03:14,101 --> 00:03:17,381 Speaker 2: whole US Army unit, the four hundred and forty second 49 00:03:17,421 --> 00:03:21,421 Speaker 2: Regimental Combat Team. The soldiers of that regiment were all 50 00:03:21,501 --> 00:03:25,541 Speaker 2: Japanese American and while they were fighting for freedom in Europe, 51 00:03:25,781 --> 00:03:30,061 Speaker 2: their families were losing their freedom back home. This story 52 00:03:30,141 --> 00:03:32,941 Speaker 2: tells us so much about what makes someone go above 53 00:03:33,341 --> 00:03:37,341 Speaker 2: and beyond the call of duty. Even after being mistreated 54 00:03:38,941 --> 00:03:42,501 Speaker 2: on that day in nineteen forty four, Josicato knew he 55 00:03:42,581 --> 00:03:46,221 Speaker 2: was running into a deadly cloud of bullets. He had 56 00:03:46,261 --> 00:03:51,261 Speaker 2: a broken heart and a deep feeling of injustice, but 57 00:03:51,341 --> 00:04:08,461 Speaker 2: he used it for a higher purpose. One morning in 58 00:04:08,541 --> 00:04:12,261 Speaker 2: early December nineteen forty one, Josicato went to work at 59 00:04:12,261 --> 00:04:16,061 Speaker 2: his family's little grocery store in Redlands, California, a farming 60 00:04:16,101 --> 00:04:19,781 Speaker 2: town outside La Joe was the middle of seven kids, 61 00:04:20,181 --> 00:04:23,581 Speaker 2: twenty years old. He had barely graduated from high school, 62 00:04:24,021 --> 00:04:25,940 Speaker 2: and he had no idea what he wanted to do 63 00:04:25,981 --> 00:04:28,821 Speaker 2: with his life. And then he turned on the radio 64 00:04:29,501 --> 00:04:31,861 Speaker 2: and suddenly everything changed. 65 00:04:32,941 --> 00:04:40,820 Speaker 4: Yesterday, the sun Bus sub nineteen forty one, a date 66 00:04:40,901 --> 00:04:47,621 Speaker 4: which will live in infamy. The United States of America 67 00:04:48,941 --> 00:04:51,341 Speaker 4: was suddenly and deliberately attacked. 68 00:04:52,421 --> 00:04:56,381 Speaker 3: I heard the newscast fact when Roosevelt said Pearl Harvell 69 00:04:56,461 --> 00:05:01,141 Speaker 3: was being bombed tonight. Couldn't believe that Pearl Harve's bombed bus. 70 00:05:01,741 --> 00:05:03,341 Speaker 3: I got, this's what are we going to do now? 71 00:05:04,381 --> 00:05:07,381 Speaker 2: He wasn't the only one asking that question. The government 72 00:05:07,541 --> 00:05:11,261 Speaker 2: was too, and by February of nineteen forty two, they 73 00:05:11,301 --> 00:05:15,820 Speaker 2: made a controversial choice. Japanese American citizens like Joe couldn't 74 00:05:15,861 --> 00:05:20,061 Speaker 2: stay where they were. Here's Milton Eisenhower, the director of 75 00:05:20,101 --> 00:05:23,021 Speaker 2: the War Relocation Authority, explaining the decision. 76 00:05:23,861 --> 00:05:28,021 Speaker 5: When in the Japanese attacked Pearl Harvard, our West coast 77 00:05:28,061 --> 00:05:32,141 Speaker 5: became a potential combat zone. Living in that zone were 78 00:05:32,181 --> 00:05:36,061 Speaker 5: more than one hundred thousand persons of Japanese ancestry. Most 79 00:05:36,101 --> 00:05:39,101 Speaker 5: were loyal, but no one knew what would happen among 80 00:05:39,141 --> 00:05:44,261 Speaker 5: this concentrated population if Japanese forces should try to invade 81 00:05:44,261 --> 00:05:48,501 Speaker 5: our shores. Military authorities therefore determined that all of them, 82 00:05:48,821 --> 00:05:50,981 Speaker 5: citizens and aliens alike, would have to move. 83 00:05:52,421 --> 00:05:56,380 Speaker 2: So suddenly, Japanese Americans across the West coast discovered that 84 00:05:56,461 --> 00:06:02,221 Speaker 2: American democracy no longer applied to them. Kids were pulled 85 00:06:02,221 --> 00:06:06,140 Speaker 2: out of school, everybody lost their jobs, and the government 86 00:06:06,181 --> 00:06:10,301 Speaker 2: built relocation camps on dusty prairies and dried out farms 87 00:06:10,341 --> 00:06:10,501 Speaker 2: in the. 88 00:06:10,501 --> 00:06:13,341 Speaker 1: Middle of the country. They looked a lot like. 89 00:06:13,341 --> 00:06:17,901 Speaker 3: Prisons barbaris, fence guard towers on us in each corner, 90 00:06:18,701 --> 00:06:21,621 Speaker 3: and the machine guns were pointing in, not out. 91 00:06:23,181 --> 00:06:26,941 Speaker 2: So Joe's family decided to move to rural Arizona. At 92 00:06:27,021 --> 00:06:30,741 Speaker 2: least there they wouldn't be forced into a camp. They 93 00:06:30,781 --> 00:06:34,101 Speaker 2: only had a few days to liquidate their lives, including 94 00:06:34,341 --> 00:06:35,381 Speaker 2: their grocery store. 95 00:06:35,901 --> 00:06:40,221 Speaker 3: We just had meatcaseus was eight hundred dollars. We sold 96 00:06:40,261 --> 00:06:42,541 Speaker 3: it for three hundred dollars through in the store. 97 00:06:43,821 --> 00:06:48,821 Speaker 2: Their whole business sold for just three hundred dollars. Their 98 00:06:48,821 --> 00:06:52,021 Speaker 2: new life in Arizona wasn't exactly Joe's speed. 99 00:06:52,981 --> 00:06:55,861 Speaker 3: That year, I had to pick up cantalopes one hundred 100 00:06:55,901 --> 00:06:59,101 Speaker 3: and ten degrees. I weighed one hundred and sixty five pounds. 101 00:06:59,141 --> 00:07:02,661 Speaker 3: When I graduated that season, I lost thirty five pounds. 102 00:07:03,621 --> 00:07:05,821 Speaker 3: I was no farmer, I was a city slicker. 103 00:07:08,581 --> 00:07:11,541 Speaker 2: Plus, the war was going on, and this fight everything 104 00:07:11,661 --> 00:07:15,541 Speaker 2: Joe wanted to do his part serve his country, so 105 00:07:15,581 --> 00:07:17,501 Speaker 2: he decided to become a pilot. 106 00:07:17,981 --> 00:07:23,061 Speaker 3: A voluntive for the Air Force. Partly draft card says 107 00:07:23,221 --> 00:07:28,541 Speaker 3: for sea enemy alien animi alien, what do you mean? Animated? American? 108 00:07:31,261 --> 00:07:34,621 Speaker 2: For the first chunk of the war, Japanese Americans weren't 109 00:07:34,661 --> 00:07:38,821 Speaker 2: allowed to serve at all at all, but a group 110 00:07:38,861 --> 00:07:42,221 Speaker 2: of them petitioned the government and finally they were allowed 111 00:07:42,261 --> 00:07:45,821 Speaker 2: to enlist. But Japanese Americans didn't get to go wherever 112 00:07:45,901 --> 00:07:50,181 Speaker 2: they wanted. They were assigned to one place the army, 113 00:07:50,821 --> 00:07:54,621 Speaker 2: specifically the four hundred and forty second Regimental Combat Team. 114 00:07:55,501 --> 00:07:58,101 Speaker 2: All of the officers in this new unit were white, 115 00:07:58,741 --> 00:08:01,181 Speaker 2: and the four hundred and forty second wouldn't be allowed 116 00:08:01,181 --> 00:08:05,141 Speaker 2: to fight in Asia, just Europe because you know what 117 00:08:05,261 --> 00:08:08,781 Speaker 2: if they got to Japan and suddenly decided to switch sides. 118 00:08:09,501 --> 00:08:12,821 Speaker 2: I mean, that's a crazy idea. But the government was 119 00:08:12,941 --> 00:08:18,181 Speaker 2: that paranoid and didn't trust their loyalty. When the first 120 00:08:18,181 --> 00:08:21,501 Speaker 2: group of soldiers arrived at Fort Shelby and Mississippi news 121 00:08:21,501 --> 00:08:22,501 Speaker 2: cameras were there. 122 00:08:23,501 --> 00:08:28,661 Speaker 6: Boys with Japanese names, Japanese faces, but with mind parts 123 00:08:28,701 --> 00:08:34,060 Speaker 6: and spirits that are enthusiastically earnestly American. They're trained to 124 00:08:34,101 --> 00:08:37,421 Speaker 6: make their contribution to victory for democracy and all the 125 00:08:37,461 --> 00:08:44,101 Speaker 6: democracy means tolerance, freedom, an equal opportunity, regardless of grace 126 00:08:44,180 --> 00:08:45,141 Speaker 6: their ancestry. 127 00:08:46,780 --> 00:08:49,261 Speaker 2: But while they were fighting for freedom, some of their 128 00:08:49,261 --> 00:08:54,741 Speaker 2: families were anything but free. Ironic, right. But here's something 129 00:08:54,780 --> 00:08:56,860 Speaker 2: else to know about the four hundred and forty second. 130 00:08:57,420 --> 00:09:00,181 Speaker 2: A lot of the guys were from Hawaii. You see, 131 00:09:00,381 --> 00:09:04,261 Speaker 2: Japanese Americans were a major part of Hawaii's population. They 132 00:09:04,261 --> 00:09:07,220 Speaker 2: didn't experience the same kind of day to day discrimination 133 00:09:07,341 --> 00:09:09,941 Speaker 2: that many faced on the mainland, and they didn't know 134 00:09:10,021 --> 00:09:13,461 Speaker 2: much about the internal camps. At first, the four hundred 135 00:09:13,501 --> 00:09:16,500 Speaker 2: and forty second had a problem. The Hawaiian guys and 136 00:09:16,540 --> 00:09:20,821 Speaker 2: the mainland guys couldn't get along. Daniel Enoe was a 137 00:09:20,861 --> 00:09:23,581 Speaker 2: member of the four hundred and forty second from Honolulu. 138 00:09:24,580 --> 00:09:31,421 Speaker 7: Both sides looked upon the others with some distrust, and 139 00:09:32,940 --> 00:09:34,621 Speaker 7: fights became commonplace. 140 00:09:36,261 --> 00:09:39,141 Speaker 2: But then one of their leaders had an idea. They 141 00:09:39,180 --> 00:09:41,340 Speaker 2: took some of the Hawaiian soldiers on a bus to 142 00:09:41,460 --> 00:09:44,061 Speaker 2: Arkansas to visit an internment camp. 143 00:09:44,741 --> 00:09:50,180 Speaker 7: At the gate were men in uniform with rifles and bayonets, 144 00:09:51,221 --> 00:09:53,941 Speaker 7: and I thought what in the is happening? Then you 145 00:09:54,021 --> 00:09:57,740 Speaker 7: look into the camp and there they were, and then 146 00:09:57,780 --> 00:09:59,060 Speaker 7: it dawned us. 147 00:09:58,861 --> 00:09:59,660 Speaker 1: What had happened. 148 00:10:02,501 --> 00:10:05,460 Speaker 2: It was a prison for families who looked just like them, 149 00:10:05,901 --> 00:10:10,901 Speaker 2: little kids, old folks, moms and dads. The Hawaiian guys 150 00:10:11,060 --> 00:10:14,060 Speaker 2: finally understood that what the four hundred and forty second 151 00:10:14,180 --> 00:10:17,420 Speaker 2: had in common was way more important than their differences. 152 00:10:17,981 --> 00:10:20,421 Speaker 2: They all had something to prove that they could be 153 00:10:20,501 --> 00:10:23,980 Speaker 2: as good, make that better than anyone else. 154 00:10:24,981 --> 00:10:29,300 Speaker 7: Overnight the regiment was formed. Next morning you had the 155 00:10:29,381 --> 00:10:30,300 Speaker 7: for forty second. 156 00:10:32,221 --> 00:10:37,021 Speaker 2: They were well organized, fearless. Their nickname was Gopher Broke. 157 00:10:37,901 --> 00:10:39,901 Speaker 2: They got to Europe in the spring of forty four 158 00:10:40,021 --> 00:10:44,060 Speaker 2: and instantly became famous. They pushed back the Nazis in Italy, 159 00:10:44,901 --> 00:10:49,021 Speaker 2: but the price was high. Over the course of three months, 160 00:10:49,060 --> 00:10:53,021 Speaker 2: nearly twenty five percent of them, more than twelve hundred 161 00:10:53,060 --> 00:10:58,981 Speaker 2: men were wounded or killed by that summer. Joe Soccato 162 00:10:59,060 --> 00:11:01,381 Speaker 2: had also enlisted in the four hundred and forty second. 163 00:11:02,060 --> 00:11:04,820 Speaker 2: Being turned away from the Air Force didn't deter him. 164 00:11:05,221 --> 00:11:06,501 Speaker 2: He was going to serve. 165 00:11:07,381 --> 00:11:10,540 Speaker 3: I wanted to show that I'm an American and I 166 00:11:10,540 --> 00:11:14,860 Speaker 3: should joined the service. I had showed my loyalty to 167 00:11:14,981 --> 00:11:16,501 Speaker 3: the country. 168 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:18,660 Speaker 2: The high point of his training was a trip he 169 00:11:18,700 --> 00:11:21,221 Speaker 2: took on leave. He went to New York City with 170 00:11:21,221 --> 00:11:24,141 Speaker 2: some of his platoon mates. Joe was like, let's have 171 00:11:24,180 --> 00:11:26,941 Speaker 2: all the New York experiences before we go off to war. 172 00:11:27,660 --> 00:11:29,620 Speaker 3: So he says, why don't we check the world of 173 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:32,300 Speaker 3: a story to say that we stayed at the world 174 00:11:32,300 --> 00:11:35,021 Speaker 3: of the story. So we each put ten bucks piece 175 00:11:35,420 --> 00:11:38,460 Speaker 3: cost us forty dollars and we only stayed there three 176 00:11:38,540 --> 00:11:41,100 Speaker 3: four hours, looking out the windows and stuff like that. 177 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:46,261 Speaker 2: Listen, that's big money. When these guys only made twenty 178 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:48,901 Speaker 2: one dollars a month and they didn't even stay there 179 00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:51,221 Speaker 2: for the night. They just wanted to say that they'd 180 00:11:51,221 --> 00:11:55,581 Speaker 2: done it. Right after that, Joe shipped out to Europe 181 00:11:55,940 --> 00:11:59,381 Speaker 2: and he struggled. It was like the canalopes, but worse. 182 00:11:59,981 --> 00:12:01,180 Speaker 2: He was pretty out of shape. 183 00:12:02,060 --> 00:12:04,780 Speaker 3: Our first day in battle, we had to climb this hill. 184 00:12:05,660 --> 00:12:07,621 Speaker 3: I couldn't climb the hill. He had to pool of 185 00:12:07,660 --> 00:12:11,860 Speaker 3: branches and roots and pull myself up. I had to 186 00:12:11,981 --> 00:12:16,060 Speaker 3: have somebody else carry my pack up, somebody else carried canteens. 187 00:12:16,381 --> 00:12:17,820 Speaker 3: When I got to the top, I was the last 188 00:12:17,820 --> 00:12:20,021 Speaker 3: one up. All I had was my rifle. 189 00:12:22,261 --> 00:12:25,021 Speaker 2: He could barely make it up the hill. But here 190 00:12:25,060 --> 00:12:28,581 Speaker 2: he was joining the toughest unit on the European front. 191 00:12:29,501 --> 00:12:32,261 Speaker 2: He would have to pull it together fast. The four 192 00:12:32,341 --> 00:12:36,180 Speaker 2: hundred and forty second was heading to France. They were 193 00:12:36,221 --> 00:13:01,221 Speaker 2: going to Hitler's doorstep. In the fall of nineteen forty four, 194 00:13:01,621 --> 00:13:04,780 Speaker 2: the Allied forces were in the French Mountains, just twenty 195 00:13:04,901 --> 00:13:08,701 Speaker 2: miles from the German border. The Nazis had occupied that 196 00:13:08,820 --> 00:13:13,060 Speaker 2: area for four long years, and now the Allies were 197 00:13:13,101 --> 00:13:16,741 Speaker 2: trying to push them out. These mountains were the Nazis' 198 00:13:16,820 --> 00:13:20,700 Speaker 2: last line of defense, so Hitler ordered that they must 199 00:13:20,741 --> 00:13:26,021 Speaker 2: be held at all costs. On October twenty fourth, the 200 00:13:26,060 --> 00:13:28,621 Speaker 2: first battalion of the one hundred and forty first Infantry 201 00:13:28,660 --> 00:13:32,820 Speaker 2: got in order advanced to a strategic ridge. Keep in 202 00:13:32,861 --> 00:13:36,940 Speaker 2: mind this was all held by the Germans. There were 203 00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:39,580 Speaker 2: about two hundred and seventy men in the first battalion. 204 00:13:40,021 --> 00:13:43,141 Speaker 2: It was part of the thirty sixth Division, originally from Texas. 205 00:13:43,820 --> 00:13:47,100 Speaker 2: In other words, not Joe's unit. We'll get back to 206 00:13:47,180 --> 00:13:50,301 Speaker 2: Joe in a minute. The first battalion set out in 207 00:13:50,341 --> 00:13:54,581 Speaker 2: the freezing rain, marching on muddy mountain tracks and Most 208 00:13:54,621 --> 00:13:57,141 Speaker 2: of them had only a day's worth of food, water, 209 00:13:57,221 --> 00:14:00,501 Speaker 2: and AMMO. They figured the supply trucks would catch up 210 00:14:00,501 --> 00:14:03,700 Speaker 2: to them, but they went too far and too fast. 211 00:14:04,261 --> 00:14:10,501 Speaker 2: Five miles into the forest. It was weirdly easy astro 212 00:14:10,580 --> 00:14:11,741 Speaker 2: toortalm was there. 213 00:14:12,381 --> 00:14:16,540 Speaker 8: We had practically no resistance for those five miles. I mean, 214 00:14:16,700 --> 00:14:20,181 Speaker 8: little little firing here and there, but we thought, hell, 215 00:14:20,301 --> 00:14:23,580 Speaker 8: this is really going to be something, you know. But 216 00:14:23,621 --> 00:14:28,541 Speaker 8: they were finally got up to our objective. The Germans 217 00:14:28,661 --> 00:14:32,381 Speaker 8: counterattacked and they worked there where on and they cut 218 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:34,181 Speaker 8: us off from the rest of the unit. 219 00:14:36,421 --> 00:14:39,821 Speaker 2: They were on a hilltop, the enemy was on three sides, 220 00:14:40,341 --> 00:14:42,421 Speaker 2: and there was a steep drop off on the other. 221 00:14:43,261 --> 00:14:47,341 Speaker 2: The battalion was caught in a deadly trap. At dawn 222 00:14:47,421 --> 00:14:50,741 Speaker 2: the next day, their commander, Martin Higgins, sent out a 223 00:14:50,781 --> 00:14:53,941 Speaker 2: twenty five man patrol. He wanted to see if they 224 00:14:53,941 --> 00:14:55,941 Speaker 2: could sneak through the enemy lines. 225 00:14:56,261 --> 00:14:59,221 Speaker 8: And they never made it. I think only about five 226 00:14:59,460 --> 00:15:02,261 Speaker 8: men came back from that patrol and they said, we 227 00:15:02,301 --> 00:15:05,941 Speaker 8: couldn't get through. There's too many Germans. So that's when 228 00:15:05,941 --> 00:15:07,620 Speaker 8: we realized, now we're surrounded. 229 00:15:08,861 --> 00:15:12,221 Speaker 2: They didn't have much AMO, medicals, applies or batteries for 230 00:15:12,261 --> 00:15:15,461 Speaker 2: their two way radios, and they had almost nothing to 231 00:15:15,541 --> 00:15:19,381 Speaker 2: eat or drink. So the order went out send in 232 00:15:19,501 --> 00:15:22,821 Speaker 2: the four hundred and forty second The Gopher Broke guys 233 00:15:22,861 --> 00:15:26,781 Speaker 2: were told to go rescue the lost Battalion. Different units 234 00:15:26,781 --> 00:15:30,460 Speaker 2: took different paths through the forest. Joe's company was ordered 235 00:15:30,460 --> 00:15:33,340 Speaker 2: to take Hill six one seven. It was the high 236 00:15:33,421 --> 00:15:37,141 Speaker 2: ground overlooking the road to the lost Battalion. Without it, 237 00:15:37,741 --> 00:15:42,541 Speaker 2: they would never reach those men. They started marching before 238 00:15:42,580 --> 00:15:46,941 Speaker 2: dawn on October twenty sixth. It was cold, rainy, and muddy, 239 00:15:47,541 --> 00:15:51,501 Speaker 2: and by mid morning they were already pinned down. You see, 240 00:15:51,541 --> 00:15:54,220 Speaker 2: the Germans were totally dug in, and they had a 241 00:15:54,221 --> 00:15:58,861 Speaker 2: deadly strategy. They'd hit the Americans hard, then they'd pause, 242 00:15:59,460 --> 00:16:02,341 Speaker 2: fall back a little, and force the gis to move 243 00:16:02,421 --> 00:16:07,061 Speaker 2: forward into machine gun and artillery fire. So for the 244 00:16:07,101 --> 00:16:11,101 Speaker 2: next two days, Joe's company kept inching towards Hill's six 245 00:16:11,261 --> 00:16:17,941 Speaker 2: one seven, getting picked off one by one as they 246 00:16:17,941 --> 00:16:21,701 Speaker 2: were trying and failing to take that hill. Other units 247 00:16:21,701 --> 00:16:24,621 Speaker 2: of the four hundred and forty second were noticing something 248 00:16:24,701 --> 00:16:28,261 Speaker 2: weird while they were being sent further in the rest 249 00:16:28,261 --> 00:16:30,501 Speaker 2: of the one hundred and forty first was staying behind 250 00:16:31,901 --> 00:16:34,741 Speaker 2: dan Enoey thought he knew why. 251 00:16:34,941 --> 00:16:39,781 Speaker 7: You see, we knew we were expendable. We knew that 252 00:16:39,901 --> 00:16:43,541 Speaker 7: we were so good that we were requested by other 253 00:16:43,661 --> 00:16:47,821 Speaker 7: units to serve as shock troops or assault troops. That's 254 00:16:47,821 --> 00:16:48,501 Speaker 7: what we were. 255 00:16:51,821 --> 00:16:55,301 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, as the days ticked by, members of the Lost 256 00:16:55,341 --> 00:17:00,461 Speaker 2: Battalion were running out of supplies and losing hope. Jean 257 00:17:00,580 --> 00:17:03,741 Speaker 2: Earhart was a member of the Lost Battalion. He remembers 258 00:17:03,821 --> 00:17:05,100 Speaker 2: the thirst most of all. 259 00:17:05,781 --> 00:17:11,981 Speaker 9: They's cut us aalt from food, water and everything. Have 260 00:17:12,101 --> 00:17:17,141 Speaker 9: you ever been thirsty, Well, think about doing a lout 261 00:17:17,221 --> 00:17:18,901 Speaker 9: water that period of time. 262 00:17:21,461 --> 00:17:25,101 Speaker 2: Finally, on the night of October twenty eighth, Joe's company 263 00:17:25,141 --> 00:17:27,181 Speaker 2: reached the base of Hills six one seven. 264 00:17:28,061 --> 00:17:31,701 Speaker 3: We're a cross enemy lines. The forest was so dense 265 00:17:31,981 --> 00:17:34,941 Speaker 3: you can barely see your hint. So we marched all 266 00:17:35,021 --> 00:17:37,541 Speaker 3: night and we're now on the back of this ridge, 267 00:17:38,621 --> 00:17:41,381 Speaker 3: and then a dawn we started attack. We caught the 268 00:17:41,381 --> 00:17:43,661 Speaker 3: Germans off guard. They didn't know they we were in 269 00:17:43,741 --> 00:17:44,301 Speaker 3: behind them. 270 00:17:44,341 --> 00:17:49,100 Speaker 2: Now Joe had a machine gun and he used it 271 00:17:49,101 --> 00:17:50,061 Speaker 2: against the Nazis. 272 00:17:50,821 --> 00:17:54,021 Speaker 3: He chased them out of the fox holes, chased them 273 00:17:54,021 --> 00:17:56,621 Speaker 3: off the hill, and they scattered the other way. 274 00:17:57,581 --> 00:18:01,021 Speaker 2: But then the Germans turned the tables. Suddenly Joe's company 275 00:18:01,101 --> 00:18:01,941 Speaker 2: was on the defensive. 276 00:18:02,741 --> 00:18:05,661 Speaker 3: We got surrounded. Now they're going to con attack. Artillery 277 00:18:05,741 --> 00:18:08,261 Speaker 3: such coming in, so we had to jump into the 278 00:18:08,301 --> 00:18:09,181 Speaker 3: Germans fox holes. 279 00:18:09,221 --> 00:18:13,101 Speaker 2: This time Oh duck for cover, popping up to shoot 280 00:18:13,101 --> 00:18:15,381 Speaker 2: at the enemy. Trying to help the rest of his 281 00:18:15,421 --> 00:18:16,421 Speaker 2: friends who were out there. 282 00:18:17,261 --> 00:18:20,941 Speaker 3: Anything that's moved, I was shooting at it. Next thing 283 00:18:20,941 --> 00:18:24,141 Speaker 3: you know, I was run out of ammunition, and when 284 00:18:24,221 --> 00:18:26,621 Speaker 3: Jumans wanted to come up, he's going to throw a 285 00:18:26,621 --> 00:18:32,541 Speaker 3: grenade at me, So I got the pistol and stopped 286 00:18:32,621 --> 00:18:36,541 Speaker 3: him in the stuff the no more two women's So 287 00:18:36,581 --> 00:18:38,861 Speaker 3: I got down on the hold to start filling my 288 00:18:38,901 --> 00:18:39,461 Speaker 3: clips up. 289 00:18:41,701 --> 00:18:44,461 Speaker 2: He listened for his friends. He knew a guy named 290 00:18:44,501 --> 00:18:48,741 Speaker 2: Sibruro Tanamachi was nearby. Joe and Tanamachi had been together 291 00:18:48,781 --> 00:18:51,381 Speaker 2: since training. They both been on that trip to the 292 00:18:51,461 --> 00:18:54,221 Speaker 2: Waldorf in New York, and they knew all about each other. 293 00:18:55,221 --> 00:18:58,541 Speaker 3: He joined the army because parents wanted him to marry 294 00:18:58,581 --> 00:19:01,421 Speaker 3: some girl and he didn't like her, so he volunteered 295 00:19:01,461 --> 00:19:03,701 Speaker 3: with the r says, I don't know why you did that. 296 00:19:03,901 --> 00:19:06,141 Speaker 3: He didn't want to get married. 297 00:19:05,941 --> 00:19:06,021 Speaker 7: And. 298 00:19:08,181 --> 00:19:11,541 Speaker 2: Just earlier that morning, Tanamachi told Joe that he didn't 299 00:19:11,541 --> 00:19:13,021 Speaker 2: feel right going into battle. 300 00:19:13,541 --> 00:19:15,741 Speaker 1: His stomach hurt, something was off. 301 00:19:16,581 --> 00:19:20,621 Speaker 3: So I told him stay back, don't go, don't go 302 00:19:20,701 --> 00:19:24,701 Speaker 3: on the strip noises, he's gotta go. 303 00:19:27,341 --> 00:19:29,461 Speaker 2: The men of the four hundred and forty second didn't 304 00:19:29,501 --> 00:19:34,381 Speaker 2: stay behind. They went ahead, even when they had their doubts. 305 00:19:36,021 --> 00:19:39,061 Speaker 2: Once Joe had refilled his gun with mo he scanned 306 00:19:39,101 --> 00:19:40,861 Speaker 2: the area again and. 307 00:19:40,981 --> 00:19:42,461 Speaker 3: Leaning back when I was looking up the hill, and 308 00:19:42,541 --> 00:19:44,461 Speaker 3: I seen the group of JIMINSS just going up the 309 00:19:44,501 --> 00:19:45,781 Speaker 3: hill machinguns. 310 00:19:46,381 --> 00:19:49,261 Speaker 2: And at that same moment he saw Tanamachi with the 311 00:19:49,301 --> 00:19:51,821 Speaker 2: squad creeping through the trees. 312 00:19:52,821 --> 00:19:55,501 Speaker 3: Oh my god, I hollered at you guys to watch off. 313 00:19:55,541 --> 00:19:58,661 Speaker 3: The machine guns are taking the hill. Back tana Machi 314 00:19:58,741 --> 00:20:01,021 Speaker 3: for some reason, he got up a sayd square and 315 00:20:01,101 --> 00:20:03,741 Speaker 3: he got shot. 316 00:20:04,141 --> 00:20:06,461 Speaker 1: Joe watched Tanamachi crumble down. 317 00:20:07,261 --> 00:20:10,021 Speaker 3: So I called over this, hold him, picked him up, 318 00:20:10,061 --> 00:20:14,981 Speaker 3: and I except that and he's gurgling and he's trying 319 00:20:14,981 --> 00:20:18,301 Speaker 3: to say the blood is coming out, and he just 320 00:20:18,341 --> 00:20:23,061 Speaker 3: swept body wouldn't lived on me. Then I know he died, 321 00:20:24,541 --> 00:20:34,861 Speaker 3: and I cried oggedn't God, why why. 322 00:20:38,341 --> 00:20:41,541 Speaker 2: Joe gently laid his friend down, and he looked down 323 00:20:41,581 --> 00:20:45,101 Speaker 2: at his hands. They were covered in Tanamachi's blood. 324 00:20:46,661 --> 00:20:48,421 Speaker 3: I was going to get to be the shot him 325 00:20:48,581 --> 00:20:54,741 Speaker 3: was died trying. I threw a pack off and picked 326 00:20:54,821 --> 00:21:01,181 Speaker 3: up Tom and I z exact backed up, run this 327 00:21:01,261 --> 00:21:04,701 Speaker 3: wind and run the road. Shot two three guys and 328 00:21:04,741 --> 00:21:08,101 Speaker 3: then white acacis were waving the group of coming out, 329 00:21:08,581 --> 00:21:11,101 Speaker 3: and I made sure that nobody behind him had a 330 00:21:11,141 --> 00:21:14,941 Speaker 3: gun house. I had to shoot him. 331 00:21:15,381 --> 00:21:18,061 Speaker 1: The Germans on Hill six one seven were giving up, 332 00:21:18,501 --> 00:21:23,421 Speaker 1: waving their white handkerchiefs. They'd been stopped cold by Joe's 333 00:21:23,461 --> 00:21:26,701 Speaker 1: one man stand. The counter attack was over. 334 00:21:28,461 --> 00:21:32,301 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, the rest of Joe's company was right behind him. 335 00:21:32,621 --> 00:21:35,620 Speaker 2: His anger had pulled them out of their foxholes, and 336 00:21:35,661 --> 00:21:37,661 Speaker 2: his bravery made them break. 337 00:21:38,621 --> 00:21:41,141 Speaker 3: The rest of the troops come up and took the hill. 338 00:21:42,661 --> 00:21:43,581 Speaker 1: They took that hill. 339 00:21:44,261 --> 00:21:48,061 Speaker 2: Tanamachi's sacrifice meant that they were one step closer to 340 00:21:48,181 --> 00:21:49,421 Speaker 2: saving the Lost Battalion. 341 00:21:51,061 --> 00:21:52,381 Speaker 1: Joe's loyalty to his. 342 00:21:52,261 --> 00:22:16,580 Speaker 2: Friend and to his country had led the way. On 343 00:22:16,661 --> 00:22:20,261 Speaker 2: October thirtieth, the day after Joe Saccado helped take Hill 344 00:22:20,341 --> 00:22:26,301 Speaker 2: six one seven, the Lost Battalion was finally rescued. Marty Higgins, 345 00:22:26,541 --> 00:22:29,381 Speaker 2: commander of the battalion, remembered how it felt when the 346 00:22:29,421 --> 00:22:31,981 Speaker 2: four hundred and forty second reached them. 347 00:22:32,381 --> 00:22:34,941 Speaker 10: I was asked by many people, what did I think 348 00:22:34,941 --> 00:22:39,101 Speaker 10: of these little guys coming through? I swear to God 349 00:22:39,141 --> 00:22:42,340 Speaker 10: they looked like Jige to us. 350 00:22:43,421 --> 00:22:46,021 Speaker 1: By then, Joe had been injured by a motor show. 351 00:22:46,701 --> 00:22:50,301 Speaker 2: A piece of shrapnel went straight through his backpack into 352 00:22:50,341 --> 00:22:52,701 Speaker 2: his lung, but he survived. 353 00:22:53,381 --> 00:22:55,341 Speaker 3: I had more than nine lives. 354 00:22:55,901 --> 00:22:57,181 Speaker 1: He was one of the lucky ones. 355 00:22:58,061 --> 00:23:01,301 Speaker 2: After days of intense fighting, the four hundred and forty 356 00:23:01,341 --> 00:23:06,941 Speaker 2: second was decimated. Jean Erhart from the Lost Battalion remembered 357 00:23:06,941 --> 00:23:08,221 Speaker 2: the scene as they left the. 358 00:23:08,221 --> 00:23:15,101 Speaker 9: Ridge were moving out of that area. There were trucks. 359 00:23:15,181 --> 00:23:19,701 Speaker 9: They're floating boys up just like you would cordwood, and 360 00:23:19,861 --> 00:23:24,941 Speaker 9: trucks that gave their life and someone else could. The 361 00:23:26,381 --> 00:23:31,021 Speaker 9: one life sacrificed for another. That's why it makes them 362 00:23:31,061 --> 00:23:39,261 Speaker 9: so great. Unselfishness, dedication. I don't know whether I don't 363 00:23:39,301 --> 00:23:43,621 Speaker 9: whether I could help. That is dedicated a given spirit. 364 00:23:43,741 --> 00:23:47,781 Speaker 9: If I had been mistreated in my family, because they 365 00:23:47,821 --> 00:23:48,741 Speaker 9: were mistreated. 366 00:23:50,821 --> 00:23:53,821 Speaker 2: We don't know the exact numbers of Japanese Americans who 367 00:23:53,901 --> 00:23:57,261 Speaker 2: died or were injured rescueing the lost battalion, but it's 368 00:23:57,301 --> 00:24:02,021 Speaker 2: believed that fifty four were killed and approximately two hundred 369 00:24:02,061 --> 00:24:05,821 Speaker 2: and eighty were wounded. And while the lost battalion was 370 00:24:05,861 --> 00:24:08,340 Speaker 2: sent back to a hot meal and medical care, the 371 00:24:08,421 --> 00:24:11,981 Speaker 2: four hundred and forty second was ordered to keep fighting. 372 00:24:13,101 --> 00:24:16,141 Speaker 2: They stayed on that god forsaken ridge, clearing out the 373 00:24:16,301 --> 00:24:22,541 Speaker 2: enemy for another nine days, but they succeeded, and the 374 00:24:22,621 --> 00:24:27,421 Speaker 2: Americans finally punched a hole in the German line. Joe 375 00:24:27,421 --> 00:24:31,381 Speaker 2: would spend the next eight months in hospitals. Eventually he 376 00:24:31,541 --> 00:24:33,620 Speaker 2: was transferred by boat to New York Harbor. 377 00:24:34,701 --> 00:24:37,101 Speaker 3: I looked the Statue of Liberty for the ast side 378 00:24:37,101 --> 00:24:39,661 Speaker 3: I've ever seen. I was happy. 379 00:24:39,981 --> 00:24:45,061 Speaker 2: I was whole, And in nineteen forty six, the last 380 00:24:45,061 --> 00:24:47,461 Speaker 2: of the four hundred and forty second set sail for 381 00:24:47,581 --> 00:24:51,541 Speaker 2: home too. It was the most decorated US Army regiment 382 00:24:51,621 --> 00:24:56,061 Speaker 2: of its size, earning over eighteen thousand awards for bravery 383 00:24:57,221 --> 00:25:01,541 Speaker 2: that included twenty nine Distinguished Service Crosses, more than three 384 00:25:01,661 --> 00:25:06,061 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty Silver crosses, and more than two thousand 385 00:25:06,141 --> 00:25:11,501 Speaker 2: Bronze Stars. That July, they paraded down Constitution Avenue in 386 00:25:11,541 --> 00:25:13,981 Speaker 2: the rain, but they were going to a reception on 387 00:25:14,021 --> 00:25:17,461 Speaker 2: the White House lawn. Here's President Harry Truman. 388 00:25:18,541 --> 00:25:23,141 Speaker 5: You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice 389 00:25:23,661 --> 00:25:28,101 Speaker 5: and you've won. Keep up that fight and we'll continue 390 00:25:28,141 --> 00:25:28,380 Speaker 5: to win. 391 00:25:29,381 --> 00:25:32,941 Speaker 4: That's great Republic stand for just what his Constitution says. 392 00:25:33,221 --> 00:25:38,021 Speaker 4: It stands far the welfare of all the people, all 393 00:25:38,101 --> 00:25:38,621 Speaker 4: the time. 394 00:25:41,261 --> 00:25:45,581 Speaker 2: The welfare of all the people all the time. That's 395 00:25:45,581 --> 00:25:49,261 Speaker 2: what it means to be American, right, except, of course 396 00:25:50,141 --> 00:25:56,021 Speaker 2: when it doesn't. Joe got a medal to at Distinguished 397 00:25:56,021 --> 00:25:58,741 Speaker 2: Service Cross. He heard about it while he was in 398 00:25:58,781 --> 00:25:59,381 Speaker 2: the hospital. 399 00:26:01,021 --> 00:26:04,341 Speaker 3: It's this letter from the younger brother and he says, me, 400 00:26:04,421 --> 00:26:08,181 Speaker 3: a newspaper clipping of my hometown, Redlands. So he set 401 00:26:08,301 --> 00:26:09,981 Speaker 3: up to me and he says, but just tell you 402 00:26:09,981 --> 00:26:14,621 Speaker 3: you received the dissingle service cluss. I didn't see no dissingle, sir. 403 00:26:15,821 --> 00:26:17,461 Speaker 3: Well it says yeah, in the paper that they know 404 00:26:17,541 --> 00:26:17,981 Speaker 3: about it. 405 00:26:19,301 --> 00:26:22,421 Speaker 2: Joe was happy with their recognition, of course, but then 406 00:26:22,421 --> 00:26:24,461 Speaker 2: he had to make sense of what he had been through, 407 00:26:24,981 --> 00:26:28,101 Speaker 2: and that was hard because it didn't really make sense. 408 00:26:29,061 --> 00:26:32,261 Speaker 2: Even Marty Higgins, the leader of the battalion, they saved. 409 00:26:32,541 --> 00:26:35,301 Speaker 2: Felt like the four hundred and forty second should have 410 00:26:35,461 --> 00:26:37,901 Speaker 2: never been sent out to rescue them in the first place. 411 00:26:38,901 --> 00:26:42,341 Speaker 10: I think we should have been my passion. I think 412 00:26:42,541 --> 00:26:46,901 Speaker 10: the entire mission was a big blunder. Well it had 413 00:26:46,981 --> 00:26:48,941 Speaker 10: killed me. When I came back and read the losses. 414 00:26:49,981 --> 00:26:50,501 Speaker 3: It killed me. 415 00:26:52,301 --> 00:26:55,301 Speaker 2: Was all that sacrifice worth it for the men of 416 00:26:55,301 --> 00:26:57,821 Speaker 2: the four hundred and forty second. It was painful to 417 00:26:57,861 --> 00:27:01,781 Speaker 2: think about. Fred Schiosaki was a member of that unit, 418 00:27:02,101 --> 00:27:04,701 Speaker 2: and he remembers something that happened right after he got 419 00:27:04,741 --> 00:27:05,581 Speaker 2: back to the States. 420 00:27:06,381 --> 00:27:08,261 Speaker 11: I was on the train by myself, and I was 421 00:27:08,261 --> 00:27:11,100 Speaker 11: sitting there looking out the window in this GI came 422 00:27:11,141 --> 00:27:13,341 Speaker 11: out and he stopped and he looked at me, and 423 00:27:13,501 --> 00:27:15,221 Speaker 11: he looked at my pats. He says, hey, you were 424 00:27:15,261 --> 00:27:17,101 Speaker 11: there for forty second? 425 00:27:17,181 --> 00:27:17,901 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I. 426 00:27:17,821 --> 00:27:20,061 Speaker 11: Said, we had the lost battalion. 427 00:27:20,101 --> 00:27:21,141 Speaker 9: And I said, yeah, I was. 428 00:27:21,461 --> 00:27:24,221 Speaker 11: He says, I was in there. I could just feel 429 00:27:24,221 --> 00:27:27,541 Speaker 11: myself getting ready. I was angry God. And I turned 430 00:27:27,541 --> 00:27:29,101 Speaker 11: to him and I said, do you know how many 431 00:27:29,141 --> 00:27:31,821 Speaker 11: men we lost getting you guys out of there? You 432 00:27:31,861 --> 00:27:36,301 Speaker 11: know how many of my friends died in there? And 433 00:27:36,341 --> 00:27:38,341 Speaker 11: he said, you know, if you guys were in there. 434 00:27:39,221 --> 00:27:42,341 Speaker 11: We had to come after you, and I thought. I 435 00:27:42,381 --> 00:27:45,901 Speaker 11: shook my head. He said, anyway, I want to thank you. 436 00:27:45,901 --> 00:27:48,461 Speaker 11: You know. He put out his hand and I turned 437 00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:53,181 Speaker 11: away and looked doctor window. I've never been really proud 438 00:27:53,181 --> 00:27:56,580 Speaker 11: of that, but at the time it was just too fresh. 439 00:27:56,701 --> 00:28:00,181 Speaker 11: I just could not. I couldn't object his hand. 440 00:28:00,261 --> 00:28:00,541 Speaker 3: You know. 441 00:28:01,061 --> 00:28:04,261 Speaker 11: Well, what comes to mind is seeing his friend shot 442 00:28:04,341 --> 00:28:08,461 Speaker 11: the head the guys that we left behind on that hill. 443 00:28:09,621 --> 00:28:12,461 Speaker 11: I know it was irrational, but at the moment there 444 00:28:12,501 --> 00:28:14,701 Speaker 11: was nothing I could do. If he had said one 445 00:28:14,701 --> 00:28:18,861 Speaker 11: more thing, I punched him. Might say. 446 00:28:18,941 --> 00:28:21,141 Speaker 2: The guys of the four hundred and forty second were 447 00:28:21,181 --> 00:28:24,861 Speaker 2: proud to be amazing soldiers. They were proud of their reputation, 448 00:28:25,621 --> 00:28:29,421 Speaker 2: and above all, they were proud to serve. But that 449 00:28:29,461 --> 00:28:31,301 Speaker 2: doesn't mean that they were blind to the way that 450 00:28:31,341 --> 00:28:35,621 Speaker 2: they were treated. They saw the injustice, but they chose 451 00:28:35,661 --> 00:28:43,101 Speaker 2: to keep moving forward because they loved their country. Joe 452 00:28:43,181 --> 00:28:46,901 Speaker 2: left the Army. He moved to Denver, Colorado. He fell 453 00:28:46,941 --> 00:28:50,141 Speaker 2: in love with Bess, the cutest girl he'd ever seen. 454 00:28:51,061 --> 00:28:55,741 Speaker 2: They got married, had a daughter. Joe decided he wanted 455 00:28:55,781 --> 00:28:56,501 Speaker 2: to be a mechanic. 456 00:28:57,541 --> 00:29:00,821 Speaker 3: They looked at me and he says, Wow, he's Japanese, 457 00:29:01,541 --> 00:29:04,861 Speaker 3: so they wouldn't hire me. Not am I doing him? 458 00:29:05,741 --> 00:29:08,941 Speaker 3: I'm going to the post office has an own discrimination 459 00:29:09,021 --> 00:29:11,021 Speaker 3: of the post office. 460 00:29:11,541 --> 00:29:14,661 Speaker 2: Joe stayed at the post office for thirty two years 461 00:29:14,781 --> 00:29:18,221 Speaker 2: until he retired. He kept talking about what happened to 462 00:29:18,261 --> 00:29:20,541 Speaker 2: him in France. He felt like it helped. 463 00:29:21,461 --> 00:29:24,141 Speaker 3: I have to talk about it. If I had to 464 00:29:24,221 --> 00:29:27,061 Speaker 3: keep it in here, I think I would go crazy. 465 00:29:30,261 --> 00:29:33,741 Speaker 2: And as the decades passed, a movement began to recognize 466 00:29:33,781 --> 00:29:35,861 Speaker 2: Joe and the other members of the four hundred and 467 00:29:35,861 --> 00:29:39,421 Speaker 2: forty second. Think about all those awards the four hundred 468 00:29:39,421 --> 00:29:42,901 Speaker 2: and forty second got, how is it possible that only 469 00:29:43,021 --> 00:29:46,541 Speaker 2: one of them had received a Medal of honor? The 470 00:29:46,621 --> 00:29:49,701 Speaker 2: answer was they had been recommended for medals of honor 471 00:29:49,741 --> 00:29:54,301 Speaker 2: at the time, but those recommendations had been rejected again 472 00:29:54,901 --> 00:30:01,541 Speaker 2: and again and again. In nineteen ninety seven, after an 473 00:30:01,581 --> 00:30:05,541 Speaker 2: exhaustive review, the Senior Army Decorations Board made a decision 474 00:30:06,181 --> 00:30:10,861 Speaker 2: they would finally give credit to some extraordinary Asian American soldiers. 475 00:30:12,021 --> 00:30:16,181 Speaker 2: They upgraded twenty one Distinguished Service Crosses and one Silver 476 00:30:16,261 --> 00:30:21,101 Speaker 2: Star to medals of honor. It was appropriate, but it 477 00:30:21,141 --> 00:30:24,821 Speaker 2: was late only seven of the twenty two were still 478 00:30:24,861 --> 00:30:27,821 Speaker 2: alive when President Clinton presided over the Medal of Honor 479 00:30:27,901 --> 00:30:29,141 Speaker 2: ceremony in two thousand. 480 00:30:30,061 --> 00:30:33,541 Speaker 12: They risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty, 481 00:30:34,821 --> 00:30:37,501 Speaker 12: and in so doing, they did more than defend America 482 00:30:38,741 --> 00:30:43,221 Speaker 12: in the face of painful prejudice. They helped to define 483 00:30:43,261 --> 00:30:48,661 Speaker 12: America at its best. They didn't give up on our country, 484 00:30:49,741 --> 00:30:52,821 Speaker 12: even when too many of their countrymen and women had 485 00:30:52,861 --> 00:30:58,261 Speaker 12: given up on them. They deserve, at the least the 486 00:30:58,381 --> 00:31:03,421 Speaker 12: most we can give, the Medal of Honor. Private Sakanto's 487 00:31:03,421 --> 00:31:06,541 Speaker 12: extraordinary hair was and devotion to duty aren't keeping with 488 00:31:06,541 --> 00:31:09,541 Speaker 12: the highest traditions of the military service. I reflect great 489 00:31:09,541 --> 00:31:12,461 Speaker 12: credit on him is in the United States Army. 490 00:31:15,461 --> 00:31:18,581 Speaker 2: Joe Sicato had traveled across the country to accept this medal, 491 00:31:19,181 --> 00:31:22,581 Speaker 2: a medal he never really thought of as his, but 492 00:31:22,661 --> 00:31:25,981 Speaker 2: he cherished it until he died at the age of 493 00:31:26,101 --> 00:31:26,741 Speaker 2: ninety four. 494 00:31:27,821 --> 00:31:31,541 Speaker 3: I'm no hero, but I worked for the guys that 495 00:31:31,621 --> 00:31:32,421 Speaker 3: didn't come back. 496 00:31:35,221 --> 00:31:37,981 Speaker 2: He wore it for his friends, the man who had 497 00:31:37,981 --> 00:31:40,861 Speaker 2: stood up beside him and fought for what was right. 498 00:31:42,541 --> 00:31:45,781 Speaker 2: And I suspect he wore it for one friend most 499 00:31:45,781 --> 00:32:17,541 Speaker 2: of all. Thank you all for listening and supporting our show. 500 00:32:17,821 --> 00:32:20,381 Speaker 2: Over the past year, We've gotten emails from some of 501 00:32:20,421 --> 00:32:23,501 Speaker 2: you sharing great stories of courage, and we want to 502 00:32:23,541 --> 00:32:28,461 Speaker 2: shout out Mikayla Ernster's grandfather and granduncles who served in 503 00:32:28,581 --> 00:32:29,781 Speaker 2: World War Two. 504 00:32:30,181 --> 00:32:30,621 Speaker 1: Peter J. 505 00:32:30,821 --> 00:32:33,861 Speaker 2: Delasandro is also part of our family and received the 506 00:32:33,901 --> 00:32:36,301 Speaker 2: Medal of Honor in nineteen forty four. 507 00:32:37,141 --> 00:32:38,541 Speaker 1: Thank you, MICHAELA. For sharing. 508 00:32:39,741 --> 00:32:42,181 Speaker 2: If you have stories or people you would like to highlight, 509 00:32:42,461 --> 00:32:46,901 Speaker 2: email us at Medal of Honor at Pushkin dot fm. 510 00:32:47,221 --> 00:32:50,661 Speaker 2: Your participation helps us make great episodes, so please follow 511 00:32:50,661 --> 00:32:53,661 Speaker 2: the show, share it with a friend, or leave a review. 512 00:32:54,261 --> 00:32:58,221 Speaker 2: These are all zero cost ways to support us. Be 513 00:32:58,301 --> 00:33:01,021 Speaker 2: sure to find us on social media at Pushkin pods 514 00:33:01,461 --> 00:33:03,981 Speaker 2: or find me at I AMJR. 515 00:33:04,061 --> 00:33:07,101 Speaker 1: Martinez Medal of Honor. 516 00:33:07,301 --> 00:33:10,901 Speaker 2: Stories of Courage is written by Meredith Robins and produce 517 00:33:11,141 --> 00:33:15,421 Speaker 2: by Meredith Rollins and Ryan Schweikert. Our editor is Lydia 518 00:33:15,501 --> 00:33:20,221 Speaker 2: Jane Kott. Sound designed by Jay Gorsky, Our executive producer 519 00:33:20,541 --> 00:33:25,501 Speaker 2: is Gonstanza Gayadro, fact checking by Arthur Gomperts, and original 520 00:33:25,621 --> 00:33:30,541 Speaker 2: music by Eric Phillips. Additional editorial support from Karen Shakerji 521 00:33:31,581 --> 00:33:34,941 Speaker 2: Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the 522 00:33:34,941 --> 00:33:38,781 Speaker 2: Gopher Broke National Educational Center, the Man's In Our Oral 523 00:33:38,941 --> 00:33:42,581 Speaker 2: History Project, and Den Show. If you want to learn 524 00:33:42,581 --> 00:33:44,941 Speaker 2: more about this story, take a look at our show notes, 525 00:33:45,221 --> 00:33:47,341 Speaker 2: where we list some of the resources we use to 526 00:33:47,341 --> 00:33:48,501 Speaker 2: put this episode together. 527 00:33:49,741 --> 00:33:52,301 Speaker 1: I'm your host, j R. Martinez