how many people on here know that alaska was i nvaded by japan in WW2?

Question

just wondering who knew

Answer 1

I do, but it was mostly onthe aleution islands, many of which were deserted and had little strategic value.

Answer 2

Dad arrived there just before The Midway/Dutch Harbor battle. He was a member of the 206th Coast Artillery, ultimately on Attu. He claimed the Japs could have landed one plane and won at Dutch Harbor because they were out of ammo and throwing rocks. Not sure that's true.

The huts were dug into the ground to keep the wind from blowing them away. I don't think anything much happened after the japs left. The letters I have to his parents reflect a pretty dreary existence for those guys.

I don't have the link but if you search "Battle of the Aleutians" there is a site that has pictures of then and now. The Army made a booklet about the fighting there it's on the site as a pdf.

He ended up with the 80th ID (HQC 2/317th IR) 0n 9/6/44 and went thru the Battle of the Bulge, the little trip to Bastonge behind the 10th AD. Gen Patton just kept them busy little bees right to the end.

I asked him why he would not go camping when I was 12. He just smiled and said "You don't really want to sleep in the dirt and wipe yourself with grass do ya?" I got the rest of the story in bits over the years.

Answer 3

Yes. I know.

The Battle of the Aleutian Islands was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. A small Japanese force occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska but the remoteness of the islands and the difficulties of weather and terrain meant that it took nearly a year for a large American force to eject them. The islands had no strategic value for either side, the invasion was launched by the Japanese as an unsuccessful diversion from the battle of Midway. America feared that the islands would be used as bases from which to launch aerial assaults against the West Coast, and it became a matter of national pride to expel the first invaders to set foot on American soil since the War of 1812.

Answer 4

Fewer people are aware that Japan invaded Alaska than are aware of the Pacific island campaigns. Fewer still are aware that Japan had a master plan for governors who would control the Pacific islands, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada, the USA, Central and South America and the Caribeann islands.

They planned to win, and in cooperation will Germany - rule the world.

Answer 5

Dutch Harbor 1942

Answer 6

I personaly knew two soldiers who served and fought the japanese in Alaska in WW2.

Answer 7

I knew about. It was a diversion for the invasion of Midway. Here is a good site with information.

http://www.explorenorth.com/library/military/aleutian_war-usarmy.html

Answer 8

Yep I knew. I live in Alaska.

Answer 9

The Japanese occupied the Islands of Kiska and Attu during ww2. (my spelling may be wrong) They did that to fake the U.S. out while going for Midway.

Answer 10

Yes and the Leader of the invading Troops, was an American,
A Japanese Dr, who was visiting Japan.

Answer 11

Anyone that watches the Military or History channels will probably have seen the story. Interesting really.