Remembering Pfc. Joseph Hisato Kato, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company E
May 25, 2026 – On this Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our nation.
Joseph Hisato Kato was born on February 2, 1920, in Centerville, Alameda County, California. His parents, Taijyu and Katsu Kato, both emigrated from Hiroshima, Japan, and had settled in Alameda County as early as 1913. Taijyu established himself as community leader and prominent berry farmer in the area.
Standing (l to r): Akiko Kato (Satake), Sumi Kato, Chiyemi Kato (Sakuda), Taijyu Kato. Seated (l to r): Henry Kato,Katsu Kato, Joe Kato, Kiyo Kato (Kitayama).
On February 6, 1942, two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining older brother Henry, who had enlisted the previous year. Two weeks after Joe’s enlistment, his father was picked up by the FBI and sent to the Fort Lincoln (Bismarck) Internment Camp in North Dakota. He was among the more than 5,500 Japanese men arrested and seen as potential threats to national security.
(L to R) Henry Kato, Fred Sakuda, Taijyu Kato, Yasuto Kato, Joseph Kato, circa 1941-42.
In May 1942, after the signing of Executive Order 9066, the Kato family was sent to a temporary assembly center at the Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno, California. One month later, Taijyu Kato was released from the internment camp in North Dakota and joined his family at Tanforan. On September 29, 1942, the Katos arrived at the Topaz incarceration camp in Delta, Utah.
Above: Topaz incarceration camp, Delta, UT, October 18, 1942
In July 1943, Joe’s sisters, Kiyo, Akiko and Sumi, began to depart Topaz after finding work in Tremonton, Utah. Kiyo and Sumi both joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. In exchange for a free education in nursing, they provided nursing services for the duration of the war. In January 1944, Taijyo and Katsu were approved for an early release from Topaz and joined their daughters in Tremonton.
While the family was at Topaz, Joe and Henry came to visit from the various army bases where they were stationed. Joseph made the 1,500+ mile trek from Camp Grant and Fort Sheridan, both in Illinois, before he was sent overseas.
Rhineland Campaign
Postcard of Marseilles, France, from Joe to his sister, Kiyo, October 1944.
In September 1944, Joe arrived in Italy with approximately 670 fellow soldiers. He joined the 442nd RCT near Naples as the unit prepared to ship to France. Joe was assigned to Company E before sailing for 48 hours to Marseilles, France. After marching to the center of town, Kato picked up a postcard and wrote to his sister, Kiyo:
Dearest Sis,
Hi Kiyo! Just a card today, but all the thought is still behind these few words. How are things with you? I’m O.K. so don’t worry. Will write again soon –
Till again, bye.
Brother, Joe
Battle of Bruyères
The primary objective of the 442nd RCT was to capture the town of Bruyères, France which was at the center of an important network of major roads and a railroad line. The town had been under German occupation for four years.
Joe entered his first day of combat on October 15, 1944. Co. E followed Co. F as they advanced through the Foret de Faite, a mountainous and dense pine forest northwest of Bruyères. It was known to be strongly defended by gun sites, minefields and well-prepared infantry positions. Enemy resistance increased during the afternoon and the 442nd RCT dug in for the night.
On October 16, Joe and his fellow soldiers jumped off at 8am, moving forward to attack Hill 555 under intense fire. Lawson Sakai, Co. E veteran, recalled the first days of the battle: “There’s an area that’s open and a road that goes in Bruyères. And we’re heading that way. All of a sudden, we get fire from up there in the trees, the Germans were shooting down at us. When [artillery fire] hits a tree, the artillery shell bursts like an umbrella, it goes every direction. Not only that, but the shreds, the timber, the limbs from the trees would be cut, break, fall down, so you’re getting hit by not only artillery shell, but the lumber. You take whatever cover you can get, just hoping you don’t get hit.”
During the heavy fighting of the day, Joe was killed in action. He was buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Epinal, France.
In 1948, Joe’s remains were sent home. On April 29, 1948, he was reinterred at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Photos courtesy of the Family of Joseph H. Kato.
