Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

Thank you Mr. Iwasaki for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE & PART TWO, You’ll will not want to miss any more of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!

PART THREE: Arthur Iwasaki Interview 

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your rememberances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

If you missed PART ONE, You’ll will not want to miss any more of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!

PART TWO: Arthur Iwasaki Interview

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your rememberances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared.

 Flightline Fabrications

The 100th Battalion and later the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were comprised entirely of Japanese American soldiers.  During WWII the 442nd Regimental Combat Team earned more than 18,000 medals. Including 5200 Bronze Stars, 560 Silver Stars, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses and 22 Medals of Honor.  9,200 Purple Heart Medals were also awarded to the 442nd, of which over 700 were awarded for fatal wounds.

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

You will not want to miss any part of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!

PART ONE: Arthur Iwasaki Interview

If you would like to leave your comments about this interview,
please click the “Comments” located at the bottom of this post.

The mission of the Flightline Fabrications Living Histroy Project™ is to preserve the heritage of our heros; to make certain their stories are recorded and shared and to honor the sacrifice and courage these heroes have shown throughout history.

Please join this important mission; be part of our journey by adding your story so that generations to come may better understand history – through your experiences, your eyes, and in your words.

For addtional information about the Flightline Fabrications Living History Project™ visit us at: www.FFLivingHistory.com or contact us at: LHP@FlightlineFabrications.com

Most Japanese Americans who fought in WWII were Nisei, second-generation Japanese Americans born in the U.S. Nevertheless, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese American men were categorized as 4C (enemy alien) and therefore non-draftable.

As a regimental combat team, the 442nd RCT was a self-sufficient fighting formation of three infantry battalions (originally 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 442d Infantry, and later the 100th Infantry Battalion in place of the 1st), the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, the 232nd Engineering Company, an anti-tank company, cannon company, service company, medical detachment, headquarters companies, and the 206th Army Band.

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

Over the next three weeks Flightline Fabrications will be posting segments of Mr Iwasaki’s interview for all generations to hear.  Arthur’s story is truly one of honor, sacrifice, and heroism;  you will feel for Arthur and the men who fought along side him.

Flightline Fabrications