Lost Battalion (World War II)
Encyclopedia
"The Lost Battalion" refers to the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry
(36th Infantry Division, originally Texas National Guard
), which was surrounded by German forces
in the Vosges Mountains
on 24 October 1944.
Against the advice of his senior officers, the battalion was committed to an engagement by Maj. General John E. Dahlquist
. After it was cut off by the Germans, two failed attempts were made to rescue the unit. The third attempt was conducted by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
, a unit composed of mostly Japanese American
s. In five days of battle, from 26 October to 30 October 1944, the 442nd broke through German defenses and rescued about 230 men. The 442nd suffered over 800 casualties. I Company went in with 185 men; eight walked out unhurt. K Company began with 186 men; 17 walked out.
The 442nd is the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service, with its component 100th Infantry Battalion earning the nickname “The Purple Heart
Battalion.”
141st Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 141st Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. The lineage of the 141st includes units tracing origins to the Texas Revolution, such as Company A, First Texas, 1836, and other infantry companies of the First Texas formed in the 1870s and 1880s.-World War II:During...
(36th Infantry Division, originally Texas National Guard
Texas Army National Guard
The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces . Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support...
), which was surrounded by German forces
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
in the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
on 24 October 1944.
Against the advice of his senior officers, the battalion was committed to an engagement by Maj. General John E. Dahlquist
John E. Dahlquist
John Ernest Dahlquist was a United States Army general and World War II division commander. In the course of his career, he commanded three different army divisions, commanded at the corps and field army level, and rose to the rank of four-star general.-Biography:Dahlquist was born on March 12,...
. After it was cut off by the Germans, two failed attempts were made to rescue the unit. The third attempt was conducted by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
442nd Regimental Combat Team
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army, was composed of Japanese-American enlisted men and mostly Caucasian officers. They fought primarily in Europe during World War II, beginning in 1944. The families of many of its soldiers were subject to internment...
, a unit composed of mostly Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
s. In five days of battle, from 26 October to 30 October 1944, the 442nd broke through German defenses and rescued about 230 men. The 442nd suffered over 800 casualties. I Company went in with 185 men; eight walked out unhurt. K Company began with 186 men; 17 walked out.
The 442nd is the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service, with its component 100th Infantry Battalion earning the nickname “The Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Battalion.”
Further reading
- Newman, Tamera. Loyal, No Matter What, edited by Jim Tazoi and Kimiko Yagi Tazoi, Logan, UT: Watkins Printing, 2006
- U.S. Samurais in Bruyeres by Pierre Moulin - ISBN 2-9599984-05 http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org Pierre MoulinPierre MoulinPierre Moulin is French historian, specializing in World War II, Nisei Japanese Americans, the Holocaust as well as Hawaiian history .-Biography:...