Today in World War II History—October 30, 1939 & 1944

Painting: “Go for Broke,” depicting Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team in action in France, October 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
80 Years Ago—October 30, 1939: German U boat U-56 fails in attack on battleship HMS Nelson with Winston Churchill, Dudley Pound, and Charles Forbes aboard.
Switzerland begins rationing sugar, pasta, rice, wheat, butter, and oil.
75 Years Ago—Oct. 30, 1944: In the Vosges mountains in France, US 442nd Infantry Regiment (Nisei—Japanese-Americans) rescues the Lost Battalion with heavy losses (184 killed).
Aaron Copland/Martha Graham ballet Appalachian Spring premieres, performed in the Library of Congress.
The 442nd was the combat battalion of our friend, Hero Shiosaki from Idaho. He lived up to his name as a real hero.
What an appropriate name! Thanks for sharing his story!
The 442 RCT was the most highly decorated US unit of WWII. There is a movie of it with famous actor Van Johnson. It’s a movie that should be remade.
They were an outstanding unit! That would indeed be a great movie to see.