1944 Mar 15: Prepare for Movement

“Beware of the Ides of March” could certainly be applied in the case of the 442nd Combat Team. March 15 saw officers and noncoms rushing around like so many mad hatters looking for all available regulations on “POM,” preparation for overseas movement. First came the initial regulations, then the first clarification, then the clarification of the clarification. At this point the regimental and battalion staffs were considering the advantages of opium. Finally, the Combat Team was furnished with a new set of instructions which rescinded all previous instructions, and everybody rushed down to the post utilities office to secure the grease, waterproof paper, crates, and the numerous other items which the regulations firmly stated were necessary to the packing and crating of supplies and equipment. However, post utilities laughed rather hysterically and said that there were several other units leaving right then with higher priorities, but that maybe they could furnish us with lumber to build our own crates. Later on, they would have the rest of the stuff.

Lieutenant Charles I. Wanbaugh was designated regimental packing and crating officer. Gathering up a power saw and a crew, Lieutenant Wanbaugh set up a box factory in the regimental motor pool, put his crew on three 8-hour shifts, and went to work making crates of all sizes, some small enough for a watch and some big enough to house a couple of jeeps.

While this was going on the few men who had not completed their combat course were taken out and qualified. Inspectors from the 69th Division lined the men up and inspected their clothing and equipment.

Clothing which was in any way defective or worn had to be turned in and new clothing drawn. However, the original clothing had been specially tailored to fit the men, many of whom wore extremely small or irregular sizes. The new issue was the normal size. The personnel officer scoured the regiment for tailors. Every man who had ever been a tailor or hoped to be one was hustled into the regimental supply building and put the work.

Some of the results were astounding: one man got his blouse back à la Little Lord Fauntleroy, with elbow-length sleeves. Most of the stuff fitted pretty well, however, considering the speed with which it was made over.

It was also necessary to draw new rifles, machine guns, and mortars. The men to whom they were assigned took them out to the range, zeroed them in, and made sure that they functioned perfectly. Teams from the inspector general’s office came around checking on administrative files and supply records, deciding which records could be destroyed and which ones must be packed and taken with a Combat Team. Company, battalion, and regimental designations were obliterated from all equipment and the shipment number stenciled on in their places.

To top all this off, the Combat Team was directed to furnish ten more officers and 155 enlisted men as additional replacements for the 100th Infantry Battalion. The 442nd CT was therefore ordered overseas with two rifle battalions leaving a skeleton 1st Battalion behind in command of Major Sherman L. Watts. Enough officers and men transferred to the 2nd and 3rd Battalion to bring them up to combat strength and the work went on. In the midst of the 3rd Battalion’s preparations, Lieutenant Colonel Sherwood Dixon, who had taken the men through all the trials and tribulations of training, was called to Washington to serve in the Office of the Chief of Staff. Major Emmett L. O’Connor took over the battalion, and Captain Ivan F. Kovac was transferred in as Executive Officer.

Finally, all “non-TAT” equipment, the items the Combat Team would not see again until it reached the final port of destination, was loaded on box cars. The vehicles were turned in, the property which belonged to Camp Shelby was inventoried and turned over to the post authorities, and the men were nervously waiting to go.