12. America Put Its Ethnic Diversity and the Multicultural Roots of Its Citizens to Good Use During WWII
After the US joined WWII, the War Department tried to figure out the best way to make use of first-generation bilingual immigrants from enemy-occupied areas. Eventually, it was decided to establish special units of bilingual American citizens from certain ethnic groups, for operations in occupied countries. Accordingly, ethnic battalions of Filipinos, Japanese, Austrians, Greeks, and Norwegians, were created in 1942.
The Norwegian one was the 99th Infantry Battalion, Separate (because it was unattached to any regiment). It trained for winter and alpine warfare in Colorado, and was then shipped to Scotland in September, 1943. It was there that the OSS came a-calling, seeking Norwegian speakers to volunteer for special missions. Eventually, 12 officers and 80 men from the 99th Battalion were selected for what would become the OSS’ Norwegian Special Operations Group (NORSOG).