Heroes of the 442nd - Short Film

December 7, 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.

February 19, 1942 - President Roosevelt takes unprecedented action when he signs Executive Order 9066, launching the mass incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese-American citizens into ten internment camps from California to Arkansas.

Despite their imprisonment, many Japanese-Americans are determined to prove their patriotism and loyalty by joining the American Armed Forces to serve in combat.

February 1, 1943 - President Roosevelt activates the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, to be made up of almost entirely Nisei Japanese-Americans.

When the recruiting office calls for 1500 volunteers, over 10,000 apply.

Once the newly-formed 442nd is fully-trained and sent to Europe, the regiment displays great courage and ability in multiple major battles, adopting the motto, “Go for Broke!”

The 100th Battalion of Nisei Japanese-Americans from Hawaii is soon merged with the 442nd.

After hard-fought victories in Italy, General George Marshall says of the 442nd, “They were superb! They showed rare courage and tremendous fighting spirit.”

Now considered “problem solvers,” the 442nd is quickly sent up into France to the Vosges Mountains.

After two other American regiments fail to do so, on October 29, 1944, the 442nd is called upon to rescue the so-called “Lost Battalion” from the 141st Regiment out of Texas which have been completely surrounded by the Germans army.

The 442nd attack fortified enemy lines relentlessly until finally breaking through to rescue 211 men of the Lost Battalion… further securing their reputation for extraordinary bravery and ability.

Nearly every member of the 442nd engaged in the rescue receives a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

By war’s end, now known as the “Purple Heart Battalion,” the 442nd has suffered 9,486 casualties. Over 600 made the ultimate sacrifice. The 442nd was the most decorated regiment in the U.S. military in World War II.

Inspired by actual events, HEROES OF THE 442nd will be a narrative short film honoring the bravery and courage of a small unit of men searching for wounded soldiers of the 141st deep behind enemy lines in the Vosges Mountains.

The film is intended to honor the memory of the 442nd and also serve as proof of concept to produce a long-form series about these American heroes.

Creative Team:

Writer/Director - Randall Fontana (FAREWELL MY LOVE, CONVERGENCE)

Writer/Producer - Emi Kiyotoki (CONVERGENCE)

Executive Producer - Tom Karnowski (GLASS ONION, THE LAST JEDI, KNIVES OUT)

Executive Producer - Ralph Winter (X-MEN, HOCUS POCUS 2, STAR TREK VI)

If we are fortunate enough to exceed our fundraising goal, those additional funds will be utilized to expand the story, enhance production value, add additional visual FX, finance film festival entries and marketing, etc.

A portion of the film's proceeds will go to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, and the Japanese American Veterans Association.

Your donations will go towards the following:

- Casting incredible actors

- Hiring first-class crew with extensive professional experience

- Using state-of-the-art equipment for high-quality production value

- Studio-quality WW II props and wardrobe

- Studio-level visual effects artists, post-production pros

- High-quality, evocative music

- Meals, transportation, locations

- Entering film festivals to expose the world to the heroic 442nd

The story of the 442nd is not nearly as well-known as it deserves to be. Our hope is that our film will be a spark to revive the memory of the 442nd and inspire further interest in learning about these heroic soldiers.

Thank you for your generosity,

The HEROES OF THE 442nd Creative Team

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