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Shirey, Orville C.. Americans; The Story of the 442d Combat Team. Infantry Journal Press, Washington, DC, 1946.

Price: US$250.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: Quarto, 151, [1] pages, Illustrations. Color endpaper maps. Maps. Roster. Some discoloration inside boards. Some foxing to fore-edge, boards and spine faded and discolored. Some wear to board edges. Major Orville C. Shirey was an Army intelligence officer assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. At the end of the war a Captain he worked as assistant to the editor of the Infantry Journal, now Army magazine, where he edited more than 50 books, all histories of World War II units. His book Americans: The Story of the 442d Combat Team, was first published in Italy in 1945. The following year an expanded version was released in the United States by Infantry Journal Press. This book is still cited as a reference for researchers. "In the truest sense of the word," he writes of his book, "this is not a history. We have not sufficient perspective in time to evaluate carefully and fully the contribution of the 442d Combat Team. Neither have we sufficient written data to insure the absolute accuracy of many minute details in the battle reports which make up a large part of this volume." In a review provided by Battery they say of the book: "Major Shirey is too modest. This is a thoughtful, engaging unit history. He is careful not to claim too much, but makes it abundantly clear that these men were determined to fight -- and if necessary die -- for the right to be considered simply Americans. Shirey's record of their sacrifices and accomplishments shows how well they succeeded." He received the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Unit Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and Medaglia al Valore Militare (Italian). The 442nd Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army. The regiment is best known as the most decorated in U. S. military history and as a fighting unit composed almost entirely of second-generation American soldiers of Japanese ancestry (Nisei) who fought in World War II. Beginning in 1944, the regiment fought primarily in the European Theatre, in particular Italy, southern France, and Germany. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was organized on March 23, 1943, in response to the War Department's call for volunteers to form the segregated Japanese American army combat unit. More than 12,000 Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) volunteers answered the call. Ultimately 2,686 from Hawaii and 1,500 from U.S. incarceration camps assembled at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in April 1943 for a year of infantry training. Many of the soldiers from the continental U.S. had families in internment camps while they fought abroad. The unit's motto was "Go for Broke". The 442nd Regiment is the most decorated unit for its size in U.S. military history. Created as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team when it was activated 1 February 1943, the unit quickly grew to its fighting complement of 4,000 men by April 1943, and an eventual total of about 14,000 men served overall. The unit including the 100th Infantry Battalion earned more than 18,000 awards in less than two years, including more than 4,000 Purple Hearts and 4,000 Bronze Star Medals. The unit was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations (seven between 1944-46, five earned in one month). Twenty-one of its members were awarded Medals of Honor. In 2010, Congress approved the granting of the Congressional Gold Medal to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and associated units who served during World War II, and in 2012, all surviving members were made chevaliers of the French Légion d'Honneur for their actions contributing to the liberation of France and their heroic rescue of the Lost Battalion. Arriving in the European Theatre, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, with its three infantry battalions, one artillery battalion and associated HQ and service companies, was attached to the 34th Infantry Division. On 11 June 1944, near Civitavecchia, Italy, the existing 100th Infantry Battalion, another all-Nisei fighting unit which had already been in combat since September 1943, was transferred from the 133rd Infantry Regiment to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Because of its combat record, the 100th was allowed to keep their original designation, with the 442nd renaming its 1st Infantry Battalion as its 100th Infantry Battalion. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing.

Seller: Ground Zero Books, Ltd., Silver Spring, MD, U.S.A.

Shirey, Orville C.. Americans: The Story of the 442d Combat Team (Signed). Washington Infantry Journal Press, 1946.

Price: US$250.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: Bright, unclipped pictorial dust jacket with edge rubbing and light chipping in mylar cover. Tight binding, solid gray boards with gently bumped upper corners, bright blue lettering to spine strip, inscribed and dated by author to previous owner on half title page, otherwise clean, unmarked pages throughout.

Seller: Shaker Mill Books, W. Stockbridge, MA, U.S.A.

Shirey, Orville.. Americans: Story of the 442d Combat Team.. Infantry Journal P., 1946., 1946.

Price: US$323.00 + shipping

Condition: Near Fine

Description: 1st. ed. 151p. Photos. Maps. Most decorated army unit of WW II. Composed of Japanese-American personnel. Served in Italy & Southern France. Large format. Jacket chipped lower front, foxed on back panel, rubbed at fold of front blurb. Near Fine/Good Copy

Seller: Military Books, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Orville C. Shirey. AMERICANS: The Story of The 442d Combat Team. Washington Infantry Journal Pres, 1946.

Price: US$327.50 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: 1st edition, 1946. Hardcover with grey cloth boards. No dust-jacket. Staining and creasing to some pages. Former owner's inscription on interior of front cover. Binding intact. Ships from a smoke-free home. 151 pages.

Seller: Michael Knight, Bookseller, Forest Grove, OR, U.S.A.