By Jeffrey Bingham Mead
It was a welcoming-home event like none other that New York City had thrown before. Summer heat and humidity descended on the region in the days leading up to the first post-World War II July 4 holiday. “Skippers of harbor craft leaned heavily on their whistles, low-flying Navy planes dived low in salute and fireboats put on a display off the Battery yesterday afternoon,” reported the New York Times on July 3.
The Transport Wilson Victory had arrived at 3:00 p.m. off ‘the Narrows’ between Staten Island and Brooklyn, the main channel long considered the maritime gateway to the city. It was escorted up the Hudson to Pier 84.
An Army tugboat carried a band that commenced playing a medley of Hawaiian tunes, causing the returning soldiers and about 800 other passengers to the rails, life rafts and the ship’s mast to view, hear and no doubt smile at the welcome they rightfully were receiving. Thoughts of home and of loved-ones who had withstood separation and sacrifices surely warmed their hearts.
The occasion was the return of 500 officers and enlisted men of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. They were returning home after nearly three years of some of the worst combat in Europe. Many of their brothers in arms did not live to see victory or the welcome those who survived the horrors of the Second World War were being treated to by the people of New York City that summer day.
“And for support of this Declaration,” wrote Thomas Jefferson in the American Declaration of Independence, “with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Live, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Those words rang true in 1776. On this occasion -and for these special Americans- history and tradition was reaffirmed.
Those returning soldiers were making history, and history was all around them that sunny day in New York. Almost 170 years earlier British forces under the command of William Howe in late August 1776 mounted an amphibious maneuver across those same Narrows from Staten Island, landing in Brooklyn, routing Washington’s army at the Battle of Long Island. This was the first major battle of the American Revolution, and it was the largest of the entire Revolutionary War.
It was a near catastrophe for Washington, his army and the cause of American freedom and independence just declared the month before.
But the landscape the 442nd Regimental Combat Team passed by that day was the scene of one of the most surprising and successful military retreats in history –a retreat that, confusing as it may be was in hindsight a resounding victory.
Washington and the army under his command were encircled on Brooklyn Heights; the East River was at their backs. Heavy rain descended. British forces were digging trenches, and approaching the American lines. David McCullough reflected in his book ‘1776’ that, “With the situation as grim as it could be, no one was more conspicuous in his calm presence of mind than Washington, making his rounds on horseback in the rain. They must be “cool but determined,” he had told the men before battle, when spirits were high. Now, in the face of catastrophe, he was demonstrating what he meant by his own example. Whatever anger or torment or despair he felt, he kept to himself.”
The commander of the Pennsylvania regiments was Thomas Mifflin, who had crossed over from Manhattan to Brooklyn. After an inspection of the outer American defenses he advised Washington that retreat to Manhattan was necessary. The other Generals agreed and orders were sent out. “In a single night,” McCullough wrote, “9,000 troops had escaped across the river. Not a life was lost. The only men captured were three who had hung back to plunder.” The British were understandably astonished, and the cause of freedom was preserved.
The members of the 442nd were officially welcomed at New York’s Pier 84 by Hugo Rogers, president of the Borough of Manhattan along with army officers that included Brig. Gen. Robert H. Wylie, deputy chief of transportation of the Army as well as Major Gen. Ewart G. Plank, the commanding officer of the New York Port of Embarkation.
The New York Times reported that in a message from Gen. Jacob L. Devers, head of the Army Ground Forces, the soldiers of the 442nd were honored for their record of service and valor “in which we of the Army Ground Forces take special pride.”
Lieut. Col. Alfred A. Pursall (spelled Purcell by the Times) of Crystal City, Missouri was there. He was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion who said, according to the Times, the troops displayed the same high morale and in the scene of battle.
The Times did not shy away from the issue of discrimination the Japanese Americans endured. Pursall reportedly commented that indeed discrimination against Nisei families “was not entirely cleared up,” noting that while it was “depressing” it did not lead to bad morale. “The men took in their stride. They were out to fight for liberty and recognition of themselves and honor for their families in every way.”
“How thoroughly the 442nd lived up to its meaning (referring to the slogan ‘Go for Broke”) was reflected in the 3,600 Purple Hearts and almost 2,000 other decorations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, won in their drives.”
The day after the news of the warm welcome and return to American soil was reported, the New York Times published an editorial like none other in a July 4 edition. It was and still is a cause for celebration and inspiration.
Entitled ‘First-Class Citizens,’ the July 4 Independence Day editorial harkened back to the days of the American Revolution and those who crossed the waters of New York to secure freedom and liberty we enjoy as the 21st century continues to unfold:
“By any test, the men of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who came home belatedly from Europe to a sincere welcome by New York City are a fine type of American citizen. All were born in the United States, or in United States territory. They were educated in American schools. As a group they and their parents and grandparents have the highest record of law observance in Honolulu and on the West Coast. Some of them were in military service before the beginning of the war. Practically all of the rest were volunteers in the sense that they did not wait their turn to be drafted. Their military record is unsurpassed by any organization of the like size in the United States Army.
“These men deserve well of their country. They are of Japanese ancestry, descendants of a people with whom we have just fought a bloody war. But if anyone ever lived up to the democratic ideals it was the men of the 442nd, 650 of whom died in action, or of wounds, and of whom 4,349 more were wounded in action and 4,881 suffered from combat-induced illness. Even more important than their combat record, however, is the report of their commanding officer that their morale has been as good in camp, as they waited long to come home, as it was in combat.
“For these men, it is hoped, there will be waiting here no second-class treatment, no second-class citizenship or social or economic discrimination. For they and their families from which they came are first-class citizens in every sense. They won that honor the hard way –with blood, sweat and tears. They are men of whom the whole United States should be proud.”
On this 234th anniversary of American independence we reminded that throughout our history the lives entailing self-sacrifice are the ones that endure the most. Whether it was 1776, the World War II years, the present and all points in between we should both celebrate and pause to recall those who answered the call in the face of tyranny’s darkness to uphold, perpetuate, support and protect free government. Throughout the great events of time our wisdom, moral courage and our ideals have been and will continue to be tested. History records the achievements of those who embraced the inner strength and faith needed to face down discouragement, fear, discrimination and turn those darker paths of human conduct into opportunities for courage and devotion to a cause and country higher than themselves. “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages,” said Washington. As it should be.
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