Book Description from the PrefaceThis historical book presents the little known story of the Artillery Battalion of the reknown 442nd Regimental Combat Team of World War II. The great military successes of the 442nd as it broke the defenses and drove back the German army in the Rome-Arno and the Vosges Campaigns are significantly attributable to the effective artillery support provided by the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion in protecting and clearing the advances of the 442nd Infantry Regiment against the Germans. The 522nd earned the reputation as one of the fastest and most efficient artillery units in the European Theatre of operations in World War II. The lOOth/442nd infantrymen had high praise and appreciation for the fire support of the 522nd behind them, and sorely missed the 522nd when they had to attack the Gothic Line without the services of the 522nd.This 522nd story is presented in two parts. The first phase depicts the unit history of the Battalion, from its origins, through its basic training, to its combat experience baffling the German armies in Italy and France. Separated from the 442nd Infantry in March 1945, the 522nd earned the unique distinction of being the only Japanese-American combat unit to fight on German soil and to encounter firsthand the unspeakable Nazi inhumanity at the Dachau concentration camp and its subcamps which deserves to be documented for posterity. The second phase of this book is devoted to the five Battery units that comprised the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion where space has been allotted to each Battery to recall and share its memories and reminiscences of battery life as a 522nd artillerymen. While extensive battery portraiture was sought with some difficulty, timely contributions of articles and stories were considered and printed. Dedicated effort was made to liberally illustrate the historical narrative with diagram maps, photos and cartoons. The book title "Fire For Effect" is taken from an artillery jargon which orders the howitzers to "fire away" (or "Go For Broke") after the target has been calibrated and zeroed in. The book will hopefully serve not only as a nostalgic memoir and souvenir for veterans of the 522nd but also as a formal and first published pictorial narrative and history of the artillery arm of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. "Fire For Effect" is dedicated to all the men of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion who fought for the cause of liberty and justice and convincingly proved that Americanism transcends race, color or national origin. |
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