Yukitsugu Nishimura

Able Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd RCT

 

Yukitsugu Nishimura, born September 11, 1924 in Koloa, Kauai, was a Japanese American whose life reflected the quiet determination, patriotism, and sense of responsibility that defined many Nisei. Raised in the multicultural environment of the Hawaiian Islands, he grew up at a time when Japanese Americans faced intense suspicion and discrimination following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite these challenges, Nishimura chose to affirm his loyalty to the United States through service rather than words.

When the U.S. Army began accepting Japanese American volunteers, he stepped forward and volunteered for the newly formed 442nd Regimental Combat Team in March 1943. Composed almost entirely of Japanese American Nisei, the 442nd RCT, with the 100th Infantry Battalion, would become one of the most highly decorated units in U.S. military history. His decision was driven by a strong sense of duty — to his country, his family, and his Hawaiʻi community — at a time when that loyalty was often questioned.

After entering the U.S. Army, Nishimura trained with the 442nd RCT at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Instead of remaining with the 442nd, he volunteered to become an early replacement soldier to the 100th Infantry Battalion in early 1944. Originally formed with American soldiers of Japanese ancestry (AJA) serving in the U.S. Army prior to the war, the 100th had been deployed to Italy in September 1943, and had earned a formidable reputation for courage and sacrifice. Heavily depleted due to casualties, the 100th was known as “The Purple Heart Battalion.”

Serving with the 100th from Anzio in 1944 placed Nishimura among men who fought in some of the most brutal campaigns of the European Theater. Replacement soldiers were thrust quickly into front-line realities, sharing the hardships, risks, and bonds that only combat could forge.

When later asked what he did during the war, he was never specific, simply replying, “Whatever was needed.” That answer reflected the mindset that made the AJA soldiers so effective — doing the job at hand without complaint or expectation of recognition.

Over time, he did mention carrying heavy communication equipment while running messages between commanders and units and repairing telephone lines under fire —tasks that demanded both physical endurance and extraordinary calm under extreme stress. It is difficult to imagine the pressure of those moments, or the strength required to carry on under such conditions.

True to his nature, Nishimura did not seek recognition, and the stories he later shared tended to be from moments away from combat — lighter recollections that hinted at deeper experiences. He recalled meeting Pope Pius XII, traveling to Switzerland on furlough, and, with humor, visiting Monaco where he first experienced gambling.

After the war, Nishimura returned home having proven his loyalty through action. He went on to work at Fort Shafter as an auto mechanic, eventually retiring from there. His skill with cars extended beyond his job — he helped his brother, taught younger relatives auto body work, and was always willing to share his knowledge.

Athletics played an important role throughout his life. He enjoyed baseball, bowling, fishing, and swimming, often alongside his war buddies. He played in the “makule” (Hawaiian for old/senior) league in Mānoa and later coached youth baseball, including the league in which his son played. Visits with fellow veterans such as Susumu Kunishige (Co. A), Harry Moromisato (Co. A), and Matsumoto were part of family life, and with hindsight it became clear that these men shared a bond forged by experiences only they could fully understand.

Swimming, in particular, became a daily discipline. Each morning at 5:00 a.m., he could be found at Magic Island, swimming from one end past the buoy and back. One incident there reflected the Nisei soldier’s mindset that guided his life: seeing a woman struggling in the water, he swam out, helped her safely to shore, stayed only long enough to ensure emergency help had arrived, and then quietly left — avoiding attention or credit.

The Club 100 clubhouse was another important gathering place. It connected veterans and families, and for his own family it was a source of treasured memories — Easter egg hunts, Christmas parties, and time spent among others who shared a common history. He also gave freely of his time and skills, never complaining when volunteered to use his handyman abilities to help build the local church or support fundraising luaus.

Though he rarely spoke of hardship, one comment revealed much about his wartime experience. When encouraged to travel to Italy later in life, he simply declined, saying, “No thank you, I walked the entire boot of Italy.”

The values that defined Nishimura’s life — drive, focus, persistence, commitment, and the determination to “go for broke” — were hallmarks of the Nisei soldiers’ legacy. He consistently gave of himself to others, and his commitment to family was evident throughout his life. He placed great importance on education, modeling that value by reading constantly, taking classes, and encouraging his family to pursue learning. That emphasis continues through his support of his great-grandchildren, engaging them in conversations about school and showing genuine interest in their growth.