Pfc. Atagi Recovers From Wounds at McCaw Hospital

Walla Walla, Wash. — Awarded the Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation for heroic achievement and outstanding service in combat, and the Purple Heart with one cluster for wounds received in action, Pfc. Archie Atagi is a patient at McCaw General Hospital, Walla Walla, Wash.

Atagi enlisted in the Army in March, 1942, and served in a Quartermaster Battalion at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., until March, 1944, when he spent 17 weeks in infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in preparation for overseas duty with the 442nd Combat Infantry team.

Landing at Naples in August, 1944, the troops remained at a replacement center known as “Purple Heart alley.” Atagi joined the 3rd Battalion of the Combat Team when they assembled for the invasion of southern France in September.

Atagi participated in the rescue of the Lost Battalion, a unit which had been cut off and completely surrounded by the enemy for a week’s duration, being without ammunition and food, and sharing its drinking water, a mud hole, with the Germans. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic action in liberating the battalion. In this operation the Japanese Americans fought from tree to tree and suffered such heavy casualties that the team was pulled back to the Maritime Alps for replacements and reorganization.

The team remained in Nice from November to March when it was transferred to northern Italy for the push to Massa. On April 5, the unit had taken a hill and was digging in when the enemy opened up with a mortar barrage and Atagi was hit in the left hand. He went to the first aid station for dressings and continued on duty until the 16th when he was wounded a second time by mortar shell fragments in both legs, the fragment passing entirely through his left ankle. He was removed through a long echelon of hospitalizations and had numerous operations. Atagi was returned to the United States by boat and arrived at McCaw June 2.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. K. Atagi, live on Route 1, Nyssa, Oregon. A brother, T/ 4 Dange Atagi, went to Italy with the original team and is still on duty there.