US "Ethnic" units

[Brett]

In my reading I have come across claims that the US
fielded "Ethnic" units. The most famous was the
Japanese-American 442nd regiment, but they were
also Greek-American, Austrian-American, &
Norwegian-American.

The Norwegian-American "Viking" battalion supposedly
jumped into Norway in Mar. '45.

Does any one know anything about these units?

[Hagen]

The only unit you mention that I know of is the 442 regiment, it was made up of Japaneese-Americans and commanded by white officers. The 442nd fought in France and is one of the most decorated, (if not the most) decorated units to have fought in WW2. There is an old movie on this unit called "Go For Broke" I was stationed in Hawaii in the early 80's and at that time the 442nd was a part of the Hawaiian National Guard and probably still is.

[Tom Houlihan]

What was that source, Brett? I've heard about trying to put a unit of Scandinavian Americans together for ops in that region, but I wasn't aware of anything coming of the idea. The best of my knowledge, just about every battalion in the US military at that time was a hodge-podge of ethnic backgrounds. Well, with the exception of blacks and Filipinos.

[Brett]

The book "GI" by Lee Kenety had a short paragraph about
ethnic Greek, Norwegian, and Austrian battalions.

The book "I never knew that about Colorado" (I didn't
write down the author) mentioned the 99th Inf. Battalion,
the Norwegian-American "Viking" Battalion. It said they trained at Camp Hale, Colorado (where the 10th Mt. Division trained), and jumped into Norway in Mar. '45.
(This book was 99.9% non WWII)

Both references were frustratingly short & as I remember
they didn't footnote the above.

Thanks,

Brett

[gary g stevens]

African Americans,and Japanese Americans served in separate units,but I dont think this was this with other ethnic groups. My father and uncle were first generation Americans ,and they served in regular Army and Naval units.

[Brett]

I just found this link about the Norwegian-American
battilion:

http://www.dma.state.mn.us/campriple.../99thINFBN.doc

[Klaus]

So the US had their very own "Viking". I wonder if they ever fought against the "SS Wiking". Would have been very confusing if so. Very informative site Brett.

[Brett]

I goggled "Greek-American + WWII + battalion" and got
400+ hits. There was a Greek-American OSS group that
fought in Greece. Some of the links I looked at were:

My Greek Odyssey: Greek American Operational Group of the OSS
OSS American Operational Group, Straight-Text Version, Part 7 + Final Parts
Greek American Battalion

[Brett]

The link below contains a story from:

The Indianapolis Star Sunday Magazine, 15 August 1971
“When The Grand Dukes Drilled In Indiana”
by Tevie Jacobs

about The Austrian Battalion, 101st Infantry Battalion

Austrian Battalion

The Greek-American unit mentions that some were transferred
to the French/American Group in China. I have been unable
to find anything about this. Does anyone have any info
on this, like why the heck they were in China instead of
France?

[Brett]

A story I heard about the Japanese-American 442nd:

One of them captured a German, & was marching him
back to the rear at gunpoint. The German was glancing
back, growing more & more bewildered, until he finally
bursts out plaintively, “But I thought you were on our side!”

So the GI replies, “Don’t believe everything
Goebbels tells you!”