Soldiers honor members of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. (Courtesy of Go For Broke Association)
Go For Broke Association
News Release
HONOLULU — Members of the Go For Broke Association, veterans of all ages of the famed 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Regiment, honored Soldiers from that unit killed during deployments for the Vietnam and Iraq Wars during a memorial service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
With families of the fallen, Gold Star Families, in attendance, the names of those who lost their lives during those conflicts were read during an honor ceremony that included a wreath laying, rifle salute and the playing of taps. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the call up for Soldiers deploying to Vietnam, and the 15th anniversary of the entire battalion deploying to Iraq.
Brig. Gen. (Retired) Raymond Gandy, a former 100th battalion commander and Vietnam combat veteran, gave the keynote address.
“Our Vietnam and Iraq brothers served in conflicts that were often unpopular. Those Soldiers had taken an oath to serve their country. They then honored that oath, often at great cost as our Gold Star Families clearly demonstrate [here today],” said Gandy whose own son deployed to Iraq with the battalion as a platoon leader.
“Our brothers evaluated the risks and fears of that oath; then weighted those risks and fears against their obligations to family, community, and the Nation. Then, with honor and dignity, they marched into harm’s way.”
Retired Brig. Gen. Raymond Gandy, a former 100th battalion commander and Vietnam combat veteran, gives the keynote address. (Courtesy of Go For Broke Association)
Nine Soldiers are listed as killed-in-action from Vietnam. Five are listed from Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Unlike their legendary predecessors from World War II, the Go For Broke Soldiers deployed to Vietnam as individual replacements.
“A huge blow to morale as you suddenly were in combat with a strange unit and strange Soldiers … we were often the only Hawaii guy in the company,” said Gandy.
In 2004, the entire battalion was called up for Operation Iraqi Freedom. It would be the first time since World War II, the battalion would fight overseas preserving unit integrity.
The Go For Broke Association comprises of current and former members of the 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry. The unit is the only Reserve or National Guard infantry battalion in the entire United States Army. The current make-up of the battalion draws upon Soldiers from Hawaii, American Samoa, Saipan, Guam, Alaska, and U.S. mainland.
Participants pose for a remembrance photo. (Courtesy of Go For Broke Association)