An important battle in the Pacific ocean, the Aleutian Islands
Campaign is mostly forgotten because it took place
simultaneously with the Battle of Guadalcanal, as well as the
Battle of Midway. While often overlooked, it is yet another of
our Army's significant military feats of the war. From June 1942
until August 1943 the Japanese tried to invade the U.S. by way
of the Aleutian Island chain, just off of the Alaska Peninsula.
On June 3, 1942, Japanese bombers attacked Dutch Harbor on
Unalaska Island. The Japanese took control of the islands of
Kiska on June 6, 1942, and Attu on June 7, 1942. On May 11,
1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. Included with the
invasion force was a group of scouts recruited from the Alaska
Territory, known as Castner's Cutthroats. On August 15, 1943, an
invasion force of 34,426 Allied troops landed on Kiska.
Castner's Cutthroats were part of the force, but the invasion
force was made up of units primarily from the United States 7th
Infantry Division. 1,481 U.S. soldiers a