Combat Chaplain: The Personal Story of the WWII Chaplain of the Japanese American 100th Battalion (A Latitude 20 Book) by Monica Elizabeth Yost Michael Markrich

Author:Monica Elizabeth Yost, Michael Markrich
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2009-05-19T15:38:07+00:00

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In July 1944, the 100th Bn, now part of the 442nd RCT, moved to Livorno (Leghorn). By August 16, they had moved south of the Arno River east of Pisa. On September 1, the 100th crossed the Arno River, moved across the plain, and dug in on the south bank of the Serchio River. The aid station was moved to a suburb of Pisa.

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Catholic chaplain to have him say Masses both that evening and on Sunday, but an hour and a half later his assistant came to tell me their unit was moving out. For worship on Sunday we had flowers in borrowed altar vases.

Monday, nine attended catechetical classes;8 Kent informed me that the other four who had started instruction had been wounded and hospitalized. Eighteen attended the Monday Vespers; four were from Caucasian units. The officers staged a dance, inviting local young women; I attended briefly as a matter of courtesy. Before leaving the port city, my men appropriated for me from an Italian house war souvenirs of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia: a curved sword, a leather shield, and a fancy cartridge belt.

One day during our stay in Livorno (Leghorn), a short Nisei private stood at his post on the main road into the city with orders to keep all unauthorized personnel out of the restricted area. A colonel with a convoy of trucks approached the lonely sentinel and the following conversation took place between the two.

“We are from the Engineers Corps,” said the officer. “We are here to secure the port and make it ready for the ships to come in with supplies.

Let us through.”

“May I see your orders, sir?” replied the private.

“I don’t have orders. I must get through.”

“Colonel, nobody gets through without orders.”

“I can kill you right here and take my convoy through.”

The little Nisei drew a line across the roadway with his boot and said,

“Colonel, you cross this line, you make [ma-keh].”9

“Make? What is make? ”

“Make means you’re dead.”

“We can take you; you are only one.”

“You think me stupid? I am a combat soldier. You are now covered by many machine guns. Cross the line and you make! ”

The colonel turned his convoy around and went back to get his orders. Later on Gen. Mark Clark personally commended this 100th soldier for carrying out his assignment as ordered.

On July 25, the battalion joined the rest of the Combat Team at the 34th’s rest center at Vada, a few miles north of Cecina. Here I set up my wall tent as a combination chapel and office and slept in the medics’

quarters. The next day was a busy one: visits to companies, visits to two chaplains, catechetical instruction, shining combat boots, making and 4yost_158-225 5/9/06 3:45 PM Page 167

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posting chapel notices. I borrowed a CIB from a soldier who had one extra, getting ready for the ceremony the next day.

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