Lost Battalions recounts the actions of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) in the Vosges Mountains in France during the fall of 1944. The 442nd was the most-decorated U.S. unit during World War II. Comprised of Japanese-Americans, the unit's actions got very little press during and after the war even though the men performed heroically.

Although the book focusses on the 442nd, it is actually a more general account of the fighting in the Vosges. Starting with a general overview of the landings in southern France, the author turns to a detailed description of the battles as Patton's 3rd Army in northern France was driving to link up with the 7th Army pushing from the south. One critical "link-up" area was in the difficult terrain of the forested Vosges Mountains. Taking the area fell to the American 36th Infantry Division, which the 442nd RCT was attached to.

It was here that a battalion of a neighboring unit (I/141st) became cut-off and surrounded by the Germans. At nearly the same time, a German mountain battalion was itself cut off and surrounded by the Americans. The book endevours to describe the intense fighting as both sides tried to re-establish their lines.

I give the author mixed reviews, as his story is choppy and difficult to follow in places. The main problem is the lack of a consistent time-line through the book. As the book jumps around (and actually repeats itself in places) it becomes difficult to grasp the timing of many of the events. Furthermore, the chapters do not seem to fit together very well. Indeed each of them seems to be a individual essay that could stand on its own. These organizational problems left me with more questions than answers as to how exactly the Vosges campaign progressed.

That said, the description of combat was riveting. The author also includes extensive presonal accounts from both German and American combatants. These are fascinating, and left me in amazement that people could survive in the environment they were in.

Finally, the book is an extremely valuable addition to the literature on World War II since it tends to focus on the 442nd RCT. This unit has not gotten its "due" despite its performance. One of the most striking things about their story is how sociological barriers (read: racism) broke down, for the most part. As the 442nd RCT rescued the Lost Battalion of the 141st, all that mattered was that they wore the American uniform.

Unfortunately, not much is available in the book about the cut-off German battalion. There is some description of its combat actions, but the story of the American side is far more detailed.

In a nutshell: Finally turns the spotlight on a heroic unit, but the writing is ineffective.

Email me with comments at michael.licari@uni.edu

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