100th Infantry Battalion (United States)

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100th Infantry Battalion
Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 442nd Infantry Regiment
Active	1942–1946 1947–present
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry battalion
Size	5 Companies
Garrison/HQ	Fort Shafter
Nickname(s)	"Purple Heart Battalion" "One-Puka-Puka"
Motto(s)	Go For Broke[1] Remember Pearl Harbor
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Iraq War[2]
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (Army) (5) Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) (2)
Commanders
Current commander	LTC Robert B. Kepa
Command Sergeant Major	CSM John I. Keawe
Insignia
Coat of arms of the 442nd Infantry Regiment
Shoulder sleeve insignia and combat service identification badge of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment[3]

The 100th Infantry Battalion (Japanese: 第100歩兵大隊,^[4][5][6][7] Dai Hyaku Hohei Daitai) is the only infantry unit in the United States Army Reserve. In World War II, the then-primarily Nisei battalion was composed largely of former members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. The 100th saw heavy combat during World War II, starting in September 1943 and continuing after being attached as a battalion of the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) in June 1944.^[8] The 100th Infantry Battalion joined the 442nd RCT at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in April 1943 for a year of infantry training.^[9][10] The unit was unofficially nicknamed the Purple Heart Battalion, with the motto "Remember Pearl Harbor".^[11] "Before it left Mississippi, the 100th was given permission to use the slogan it wanted, "Go For Broke," which is the crapshooters' cry to "shoot the works," and risk it all.^[10][12][13]

Quote: [Nearly a century later,] "the "Remember Pearl Harbor" 100th Infantry Battalion, and the "Go For Broke" 442d Regimental Combat Team is still the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. Members of this World War II unit earned over 18,000 individual decorations including over 4,000 Purple Hearts, and 21 Medals of Honor. The Combat Team earned five Presidential Citations in 20 days of Rhineland fighting, the only military unit ever to claim that achievement. General of the Army George C. Marshall praised the team saying, "they were superb: the men of the 100/442d... showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit... everybody wanted them." General Mark W. Clark (Fifth Army) said, "these are some the best... fighters in the U.S. Army. If you have more, send them over.""^[14][13]

Based at Fort Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii, the 100th Battalion continues the legacy of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, officially designated as 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment. The 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment has maintained an alignment with the active 25th Infantry Division since a reorganization in 1972. This alignment has resulted in the 100th's mobilization for combat duty in the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. The 100th Infantry Battalion is staffed with reservists from Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan and Washington. The battalion is subordinate to the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, itself under the 9th Mission Support Command.^[15]