Higgins formed a strong defensive position on a hill and dug in. Marty Higgins, a former "horse soldier" (cavalry), was in command of the Lost Battalion. "Into the valley of death." commented Foote. Foote was severely wounded and had to be evacuated to a hospital. Foote was "blown into the air by a German mortar shell" that literally "landed in his hip pocket". He "was taken out of action early" in the battle when his platoon attempted to race across some railroad tracks outside the town of Bruyeres. "I always felt safe as long as I had one live Nisei soldier left in my company. Generally all officers attached to the 442nd were white but the NCO's were all Nisei's (2nd Generation Japanese American). Robert Foote led an infantry platoon in K Company 442nd. The rescue mission would be one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the US Army.ġst Lt. It was believed by some high ranking American officers that there were few German soldiers defending the hills there were over 8000. The German army had orders from Adolf Hitler to defend the Vosges at all costs. The Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team (about 3000 men) was ordered to rescue the Lost Battalion by General Clayton Dahlquist (commander of the 36th Division). Battles were fought in the densely wooded Vosges mountains located in Northern France near the German border. In late October 1944, a battalion ( 141st Infantry Regiment) from the 36th Texas Division was surrounded by the German army. Lost Battalion_3 442nd: Rescue of the Lost Battalion
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