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(CN) — The U.S. Army republished an article honoring the 442nd Regimental Combat Team on its official website following public backlash over its removal. The article detailing the history of the Japanese American unit that fought in World War II was republished Saturday after being taken down earlier this month.
Its removal sparked immediate outcry from families of veterans, lawmakers and community leaders who viewed the action as an attempt to erase an important chapter of military history. The 442nd, combined with the 100th Infantry Battalion, remains the most decorated combat unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team consisted primarily of second-generation Japanese Americans, many of whom volunteered from internment camps where their families were held following the Pearl Harbor attack. The unit’s motto, “Go For Broke,” reflected their commitment to proving their loyalty to the U.S. despite facing discrimination at home.
“The 442nd Regimental Combat team holds an honored place in Army History, and we are pleased to republish an article that highlights the brave soldiers who served in the ‘Go-for-Broke’ brigade,” a U.S. Army spokesperson said in a statement.
“In accordance with a Presidential Executive Order and guidance from the Secretary of Defense, the Army recently took down the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Heritage webpage that featured content about the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers,” the statement continued. “The Army is tirelessly working through content on that site and articles related to the 442nd Infantry Regiment and Nisei Soldiers will be republished to better align with current guidance.”
The webpage dedicated to the unit disappeared from the Army’s official website on March 5th.
On Feb. 26, a memorandum from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had directed the removal of all diversity, equity and inclusion-related materials from military websites and social media platforms.
After the article was removed, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that he worked with senior White House officials to address the issue.
“The story of the 442nd is a testament to the resilience and patriotism of Japanese American soldiers who fought bravely for a country that once questioned their loyalty,” Green said in a written statement. “We must never allow their sacrifices to be erased from history.”
Several members of Congress also expressed their concerns, including U.S. Representatives Ed Case of Hawaii and Mark Takano of California, whose great-uncle served in the unit.
“Erasing history one website at a time is no different than the tragic practices of the authoritarian regimes throughout history that so many of our own have sacrificed to oppose,” Case said via his website. “It not only diminishes public access to crucial historical information but also risks erasing the sacrifices and contributions of these American heroes from the digital archive of our nation’s military legacy.”
The 442nd’s soldiers earned 21 Congressional Medals of Honor, 9,486 Purple Hearts, and eight Presidential Unit Citations. They fought in crucial European battles, including Anzio, Monte Cassino, and the renowned “Lost Battalion” rescue mission.
Among the unit’s distinguished members were the late U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye, who lost his right arm while leading a platoon against German forces in Italy, and Spark Matsunaga, who played a key role in advocating for civil rights and veterans’ affairs.
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