While the rest of America celebrated Independence Day the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was assaulting Hill 140. Fifth Army's brass were hoping this would put an end to the suddenly stubborn resistance of the Luftwaffe infantryman slowing the advance. Just as Monte Cassino had consumed the lives of many men and countless shells and bullets, so did Hill 140 on a smaller scale. Men of both sides scrabbled through the rocks, up and down ravines, shooting, bleeding and swearing.

The Germans again stubbornly held out, inflicting numerous casualties on the Nisei. Once the armies disengaged the Luftwaffe troops slipped away in the darkness. Privates Frank Ono and William Nakamura each received a Distinguish Service Cross for covering their platoons' retreat. Both would be upgraded to the Medal of Honor over 50 years later. While Private Ono survived the battle, Private Nakamura gave his life for his companions and his country on Hill 140. He had volunteered to serve from Minidoka Concentration Camp in southern Idaho. Also among the dead was Sgt. Howard M. Urabe, an education major at the University of Hawaii and one of the Varsity Victory Volunteers. Urabe received the Silver Star after knocking out two enemy machine gun nests before falling to a sniper's bullet.