The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians

by Brian Garfield

Several Dog Eared Pages light underlining - text visable - The 1942 Japanese invasion of two of the Aleutian Islands, the thousand-mile archipelago west of Alaska, represents the only time in modern history that American territory has been occupied by a foreign power. The ensuing fifteen-month campaign, memorialised in John Huston's extraordinary documentary film, was 'the weirdest war ever waged': a terrible, elemental and always three-sided battle, between the Americans, the Japanese

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History, War, Military Fiction, American History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Brian Francis Wynne Garfield was a novelist and screenwriter. He wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen, and gained prominence with 1975 his book Hopscotch, which won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He is best known for his 1972 novel Death Wish, which was adapted for the 1974 film of the same title, followed by four sequels, and a remake starring Bruce Willis.

His follow-up 1975 sequel to Death Wish, Death Sentence, was very loosely adapted into a film of the same name which was released to theaters in late 2007, though an entirely different storyline, but with the novel's same look on vigilantism. Garfield is also the author of The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Garfield's latest book, published in 2007, is Meinertzhagen, the biography of controversial British intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen.

Brian Garfield was the author of more than 70 books that sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and 19 of his works were made into films or TV shows. He also served as president of the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America.

Pseudonyms:
• Bennett Garland
• John Ives
• Drew Mallory
• Frank O'Brian
• Brian Wynne
• Frank Wynne

Reviews

[Michael O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best war history books I've ever read. Absolutely fascinating.

After assignment as a Coast Guard cadet to a Coast Guard cutter that did the Bering Sea Patrol, I first read this book in 1988 while at the Coast Guard Academy. Now, as a retired Coast Guard officer decades later, I decided to read it again, and I think that the years in service, some of which included a tour aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker that operated in that region, along with many years as a aviator, gave me more perspective of the difficulties and challengers of the military campaign during World War 2 in Bering Sea, Aleutians, and Alaska.

With the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, America was caught completely by surprise --- and, likely, no part of American territory was as poorly defended as the Alaska Territory. Fortunately, for Alaska and for America, the War Department in a rare moment of sense assigned the year before Pearl Harbor, Maj. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, as commander of Army forces in Alaska. This man would play a decisive role in the defense of Alaska in the years ahead.

As incredible as it may seem, America had better charts and maps of the South Pacific islands and Japan than it did of Alaska at the opening of the War. Indeed, in 1941, US military commanders in Alaska were reduced to using old Russian whaling maps from the 1860s for many of the Aleutian islands --- the Japanese through their pre-war fishing fleet that plied Alaskan waters actually in many cases had better maps of the Aleutian island chain.

There was no highway connecting the continental US via Canada to Alaska. The only ground forces -- some garrison troops in old forts constructed during the 19th Century for the Alaskan Gold Rush. The only naval assets protecting Alaska were a few older Coast Guard cutters and a few antiquate Navy patrol boats and tugs. The only air assets --- some antiquated B-18s and old patrol aircraft, no match for Japan's air might. In short, had they wanted to do so, it's highly likely that Japan could've captured as much of Alaska as it wanted with greater ease than it took the Philippines. And, from there, it could have used Alaskan air fields to attack Allied factories in the Pacific Northwest in Vancouver, Seattle, and Bremerton.

Gen. Buckner immediately set to work creating a native Alaskan defense force, modernizing air bases, getting the Al-Can Highway built, and obtaining more Army and Army Air Force assets to the region.

Nevertheless, the Japanese did manage, after attacking Dutch Harbor, to seize the Aleutian islands, Attu and Kiska. What ultimately ensued from the War's beginning to this point to the end of the Aleutians campaign was an epic conflict between two combatants in one of the worst climates in the world. With both Japan and America pushed to the limits of their resources elsewhere during the Pacific War, neither had much remaining resources with which to sufficiently support their forces there. The result: a war fought in deprivation on a shoe string between sides determined to annihilate the other in a climate where fog, low visibility, cold, heavy rains, icing, snow storms, blizzards, and hurricane force winds easily killed as many men, brought down as many airplanes, and damaged as many ships as combat.

Such conditions turned the conventional wisdom from other theaters of the war on its head. Fortunately, for the air war, the Americans had an unconventional tactician, Col William O. Eareckson was assigned to the Eleventh Air Force. Air Force doctrine taught high altitude day light precision bombing --- in Alaska, it could go months with no clear target to hit --- Eareckson developed low level bombing well below the gloom --- or using dead reckoning to bomb the Japanese targets in Attu and Kiska. Doctrine said that fighters should escort bombers. In Alaska, the limited navigation capabilities of fighers made it difficult for them to find attack locations --- Eareckson had radar equipped B-17s with trained navigators escort the fighters. Doctrine held that if visibility dropped ---climbed above the clouds. In Alaska, that was a death wish --- your wings would ice up, and your aircraft would fall from the sky --- instead, pilots would drop low --- even to wave top level above the seas to get below cloud layers.

As the history in this book progresses, it covers the campaigns to recapture Attu and Kiska. The Battle of Attu is an amazing story --- casualties for size of forces involved as high as those in the island hopping campaigns of the South Pacific.

Also, gripping is the naval battle prior to that, the Battle of the Kommandorski Islands --- the last naval battle between exclusively naval surface combatants in modern times. It's a battle that the US won by the skin of its teeth, and is one of the most compelling parts I've read in a long time.

I guess I could go on and on, but I won't since I don't think my review can do enough justice to express the quality of this book.

Many Americans are unaware that in American territory on the North American continent, great battles were fought during World War 2 --- the story of the Alaskan Campaign eclipsed by its remoteness and by the greater publicity of other theaters of the War. This is a story of bravery, courage, and mental toughness of all the combatants involved. The author does a fantastic job of bringing to life the major figures involved and challenges each faced during the Campaign. I enjoyed it very much! Definitely of interest to any military history fan!

Finally, one last thing --- if I was Alaskan, if they're not doing it already, I would want at least a few streets, landmarks, or schools named in honor of Gen. Simon Boliver Buckner and Col William Eareckson. Many are the heroes of the Alaskan Campaign, but these two especially played vital roles in the defense of Alaska and recapture of American territory!

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did Japan invade the Unites States during World War Two.? The answer is yea and no. In an effort to confuse Nimitz about the real target of Midway, a diversionary force was sent to Attu and Kiska islands resulting in a forgotten front by the papers and the annuls of history, until now.
For those of us who have watched, “Deadliest Catch,” we a get a glimpse into what the Bering Sea and Dutch Harbor are like in the throes of winter. Imagine having to fight in this inclement weather? Personally, I cannot. Think Stalingrad and the siege of Leningrad and you might get an idea of the weather with one small difference, you’re on a piece of rock that no one wants and can only supply when weather conditions are ideal, which is a rarity.

Five stars

[Myra Scholze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a huge fan of war books because I'm not a huge fan of war, but this one was pretty fascinating, especially after living in the Aleutians for a winter. It's worth the read just for the very apt descriptions of Aleutian weather and the absolutely NUTS retellings of air force missions flown out the chain. It was tedious at times, as it's 300-odd pages recounting every single bomb that was dropped and what each and every person's opinion of the matter was, but overall pretty fascinating. It was written in the 1960s, so I'm sure there are updates facts and opinions to be had elsewhere. My only complaint is that there is very little attention given to the impact that the war had not just on troops but also on the native Unangan people (like, ya know, destroying their homes in the name of war and largely their culture by exiling them to abandoned canneries in southeast for years). That and the author's obsession with the word "williwaw", but seriously- the descriptions about the conditions these pilots flew in with very limited technology made my head spin. A good foggy-day read, especially if you've spent time in the Aleutians.

[RYD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I was born in Alaska, I never knew that the Japanese had occupied the western Aleutian Islands during World War II, or that there was a hot war that happened there.

This book is a military history and is really dry and hard to slog through. But the descriptions of Alaskan weather -- and the reality that it, far more than bullets or bombs, was the biggest obstacle for the military -- certainly rang true to me, even though my hometown was in far milder climes.

My favorite anecdote was of the fogbound pilot who navigated by following a bird as it flew, figuring that the bird wouldn't fly itself into a mountain. That sounds about right for Alaska pilots.

[Dana Turk · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you enjoy historical war stories as I do this is a must read novel. The story of the Japanese invasion of Alaska in 1942. It is a roller coaster ride of emotion as three forces, Americans, Japanese, come to face each other in mortal combat and are ultimately defeated by the unpredictable weather of the Aleutian Islands.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fairly obscure topic has been given a very thorough presentation designed for folks with some WW2 background. The vivid descriptions of the horrendous conditions encountered by both the Americans and Japanese left me holding a completely altered measure of respect for these poor souls who fought and died there.

I highly encourage folks interested in the Pacific theater to give this book a read, to better understand the significance of the Aleutians campaigns and the struggles faced by all the men that served there. The book is fairly well written, and well referenced so further reading is possible... a real plus for me. A solid 4 stars.

[todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In May 1943 American and Canadian forces invaded Attu Island, the farthest point of land in the Aleutian Chain. It was the largest Pacific invasion since Guadelcanel and in terms of casualties as a percentage of troops committed it ranked only behind Iwo Jima. In one of the most costly battles of the Pacific, the Allies began reversing the progress the Japanese had made in 1942 when they established bases on Attu and Kiska -- bases that could have put all of the Pacific nothwest within bombing range.

Brian Garfield, primarily a novelist, develops this little known story with a masterful touch. Personal dimensions are integral as Army-Navy conflicts were almost as important as the enemy. Written in 1969, and updated 25 years later with new archival material, Garfield pursues the narrative of this theater in part because it was lightly covered in its day, and virtually ignored afterward. Garfield makes a persuasive case that while nobody should have realy wanted to possess the Aleutians, once the battle was defined, it was critical for both sides to succeed. This book is deservedly a favorite of Alaskans.

The events of the initial Japanese incursion, their vastly superior planes, ships and submarines, are all powerful reminders of how ill prepared the United States was for war. But the Japanese underestimated both the ability and the will of the United States to respond. Much of the newest radar and weaponry got tested in Alaska, and many techniques of engagement later deployed in the Pacific and Europe were developed there. Students of this conflict will find much that is new and important to the development of the next three years.

The conflict between enemies is central, but the reality of Alaska aches over all. Cold, fog, penetrating rain and snow, williwigs, and hurricane force surface winds were the realities. More pilots and equipment were lost to the elements than the enemy. Commanders in Tokyo and Washington had no ability to grasp the reality and soldiers trained in California had neither the equipment nor schooling for what they were to experience.

In May 1943 another event was happening. My father was getting ready to graduate from Bluffton high school and join the navy. His basic training would span the remainder of the Aleutian conflict. By the time he was posted on Attu Island it was many months after 1700 Americans were killed or wounded, with 2000 more casualties from cold and disease. The Japanese had lost over 5000 troops, hundreds of them suicides of both able bodies and woundeds as American troops surrounded their shrinking foothold. Only 28 Japanese prisoners were taken. Reading The Thousand Mile War taught me much about a little known part of WW II history and made me grateful my father wasn't a few months younger.

[Michael Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guadalcanal. Iwo Jima. New Guinea. Kwajalein. Okinawa. Philippines. Wake. Bougainville. The islands that saw ground combat in the South Pacific during World War II or legendary and their names familiar. But the American offensive campaign in the Pacific began in an area much less familiar on islands remembered only by specialists: Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. Brian Garfield's The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, is now 50 years old, but remains a timeless and authoritative account of the North Pacific Campaign. In June 1942, seven months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese again did the unthinkable: Army troops landed on Attu and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian chain. It was the first time that foreign invaders had occupied American soil since the War of 1812. US Army Air Forces planes and US Navy ships bombarded the islands when possible, though extreme weather conditions prevented any systematic bombing efforts and allowed the Japanese to reinforce the islands. Building a ground force capable of retaking the islands required nearly a year, but in May 1943 the US Army 7th Infantry Division did just that. Suffering the privations of extreme cold, brutal terrain and a fanatical enemy, the division with attached 4th Infantry Regiment and Eskimo Scouts, captured I2 after nearly 3 weeks of battle. It took another two months forced the Japanese to evacuate Kiska. The operation exposed US military to the nature of the enemy of faced in the Pacific: the Japanese suffered 98% casualties, including 500 who committed suicide rather than surrender. On the scale of other World War II campaigns, Attu was small, but on the proportion soldiers engaged, it was the second most costly: only Iwo Jima had more US casualties per capita. The brutal weather and harsh terrain provided lessons for the Army for later cold weather operations during the war, but unfortunately many of these lessons were lost after the war. Eight years after that awful summer in the Aleutians, two of the same regiments were destined to face similar terrain, weather conditions, and a fanatical enemy in North Korea around the Chosin Reservoir. Brian Garfield was not a trained historian, but his book is excellent history written well. The Pulitzer Prize committee agreed, because he was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in History. It is an operational history that is rich in resources, both Japanese and American, but he also includes personalities. This is a book for the specialist as well as the general reader. It is said that only historians read the footnotes, and in most cases that is okay. In this case, however, all readers should read the end notes. Garfield uses notes sparingly, and does not document sources in the manner of an academic history or monograph. His discursive endnotes are very informative and illuminate aspects of the text that the reader will find interesting. They should be considered part of the text. An excellent book that has stood the test of time. My only negative comment is that the book is that it lacks adequate maps -- they are crucial to understanding the campaign.

[earthshattering · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a read. First, the author continuously describes the Aleutian Islands as a wasteland that no humans were meant to inhabit, as well as worthless. He remembers, but then forgets, that thriving civilizations lived on the Islands for tens of thousands of years. And the Americans and Japanese managed to muck everything up in two years. I can see now why the Attuans, who were imprisoned in Hokkaido during WWII, were not allowed to go back to Attu. After that many bombs, contamination from sunken ships and war garbage, the place must be heavily contaminated and actually unlivable. There are cleanup sites across the Aleutians, and it is really sad. That this once-great fishery and plentiful land, inhabited by people who actually liked the Islands, is now sparsely inhabited. WWII made the Aleutians unlivable.

Other than that, this book is about as interesting as an account of war can be, which is to say, eh. I can't get behind the hero worship of Generals and Admirals and whatever. I did appreciate the account of Eric Eareckson, who sounded pretty cool, and the accounts of military bureaucracy did give me an appreciation for what soldiers have to work with when joining the military. It sounds pretty rough. I do appreciate the account of the Battle of Attu, which sounded horrific for both the Americans and Japanese soldiers.

Altogether, it's good I read it, even though it took forever, but I will not be getting further into the war genre. Also, I thought the Battle of the Pips might end up taking a UFO-turn, but sadly that was not the case.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thousand-Mile War is an excellent example of why one can write a history, but not the history of an event. Garfield's book was originally researched in the late 1960s, when many of the documents he relied upon had to be declassified before he could review them. The book was updated in 1995 with much additional information that became available later. The internet has changed research so dramatically that anyone writing a history of the war in the Aleutians today would probably produce a very different work.

Garfield's work includes oral history interviews and documents written by participants in the Aleutians campaign. The title of the book is a bit of a misnomer. While it generally covers the military buildup in Alaska, most of the book is devoted to describing the construction of installations in the Aleutians and the defensive and offensive activities launched from those bases. Garfield used a few Japanese sources, but his focus was on telling the story from the U.S. perspective, so the Japanese view of events is not well represented.

Garfield has an engaging writing style and deftly weaves in eyewitness accounts of key decisions and battles, keeping the reader on edge even though we know what the outcome will be. It is an entertaining read that captures not only the drama of the battlefield but also the behind-the-scenes debates and jockeying for influence that greatly impacted how events in the Aleutians played out.

[Pat Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all interested in both World War II and Alaska. I loved it, couldn’t put it down. Well written with the author perfectly balancing the big picture view of the battle for control of the Aleutian Islands with an eye for the glorious and miserable details of those who lived it. The prime enemy for both American and Japanese soldiers, sailors, and airmen was of course the weather with typical storm or hurricane force winds, driving rain, fog and clouds. First published in 1969 and then updated in 1995 after further declassification of military records. The huge bibliography is a feast for future reading. An Alaskan gazetteer and Google Earth are useful companions for the reader journeying through this excellent book.

For those particularly interested in the battle for Attu, the book “The Storm on Our Shores” provides more details and human pathos. It is based largely on the diary of a US-trained Japanese doctor who fought fruitlessly until his death to provide comfort and support to his compatriots, as well as interviews with his family and that of the American soldier who killed him.

[Jim Standridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. Garfield went into great detail and covered the conflict from beginning to end. Had to get used to his style, jumping from place to place and forward and back in time. He describes the overall military actions and those of individuals. Possibly the only complaint in the writing would be his habit of describing people is enough detail for a sketch artist to do a portrait suitable for framing and a short bio. His details also concur with other books covering the same engagement. It is hard to believe the interactions, or lack thereof, that took place in the chain of command during this campaign. It was more like chains of command, with more competition than cooperation between them. Though longer than it needed to be because of unnecessary irrelevant information, it was still a good, interesting read.
Readers may want to read 'The Storm on our Shores' by Mark Obmascik. It covers the same conflict from the viewpoint of a Japanese Doctor. Pretty sure he is the same Doctor mentioned in the last chapter of Garfield's book. It, too, is an excellent story.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations of the planes was helpful, but commentary would have helped even more. I would have appreciated it if there had been an index to the maps, too. Most of the military hardware (?) (planes, destroyers, submarines), so I just took all that on faith.

The story as a revelation of strategies used had previously been foreign to me. In one way, the objective presentation of the facts prevented this reader from weeping for all the carnage, and in another, a lot of people died and we need to remember that.

It is chilling, even at this far-removed date, to learn that the enemy was indeed on our doorstep at one time, and we do not seem to have taken this fact very seriously--except for the military forces who were there participating in the action. Deservedly, this is called The Forgotten War. But, though the author says in the context of global war, this was relatively small, to me half a million men is a lot of people who put their lives on the line in Alaska.

[Neil Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been kicking around since 1969 and I have always been meaning to read it; a visit to a library sale put a very used paperback in my hands and I just finished it last night.
If you are expecting a scholarly analysis you will be disappointed. Ditto if you are expecting complete factual accuracy. He repeats stories that were current fifty years ago, such as how the discovery of a Japanese Zero fighter intact led to the design of the Hellcat, that were disproven long ago. There are examples of this in every chapter. The writing is casual and I was astonished to see that it was short listed for a Pulitzer.
And yet . . . It was worth the read. The author had access to survivors who fleshed out the book with vivid personal accounts of life in the Aleutians. How awful it was is conveyed vividly. This is great as a worm's eye view of history so long as you don't rely on it blindly.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

few people are aware of the fact of the Japanese invasion of Alaska during WWII : The Aleutian Islands campaign was a military campaign fought between 3 June 1942 and 15 August 1943 on and around the Aleutian Islands in the American Theater of World War II during the Pacific War. It was the only military campaign of World War II fought on North American soil. At the time of World War II, Alaska was a territory of the United States. Following two aircraft carrier-based attacks on the American naval base at Dutch Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska, where the remoteness of the islands and the challenges of weather and terrain delayed a larger American-Canadian force sent to eject them for nearly a year. Highly recommend Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady

[Joshua Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really interesting. There were a lot of little incidents of incredible heroism recorded - like two different American pilots who stumbled upon the Japanese fleet, and launched one plane attacks, trying to sink a ship. These are passed by all to quickly, but the book was long enough as it was. Overall I found it to be well written, and I appreciated all the pictures, as well as the analysis the author included along with the narrative of what occurred.

I did think that a little more attention could have payed to the common soldiers' experience - perhaps more quotes. I also noticed at least one factual error (Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr did not escape a Union prison)

Unfortunately, due to a deadline I had to skim through some parts pretty fast. Hopefully I take the opportunity to go through it slower one day.

There was some profanity.

[Dennis McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the last few years as Chris has done research on WWII and this part of the world and I've tried to find the stories in it, I've read this book several times. I had never actually given its author the courtesy of reading it as he intended--from beginning to end.

When we heard the news of his passing a couple of weeks ago, I dragged Chris's heavily annotated copy to my study. And now I've read it "front to back".

It's a heck of a story. His research is impeccable. He could have used an editor with more authority to cut... but he makes you see it and feel it. The heroism brings you to your feet, the stupidity makes you roar. And when it's done, you understand war a bit better than you did.

[Ralph Echtinaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps more famous for the novels "Death Wish" and "The Paladin," Garfield also turned out the only history of World War II in the Aleutian Islands I have ever seen.

I read it as a teenager in the 1970s so don't remember much except that I liked it.

Fighting in the Aleutians was made difficult by the weather perhaps as much as the Russian front in winter, but Aleutian weather was bad year round. They had something like 20 nice days in a calendar year there.

Garfield takes you all the way through it, from Admiral Theobald's bombardment of nothing in 1942 to the invasion of Attu and the surprise when troops landed on Kiska only to discover the Japanese had already evacuated the island.

There is quite a bit on the construction of the Alaska/Canada highway, too.

[David Wurster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers a part of WWII history that is largely ignored or glossed over. This and the rest of WWII history makes me hope that this type of war is a thing of the past, but who knows. Our leaders around the world have certainly not become any wiser or better human beings. The current events surrounding Ukraine or Taiwan, or Iran are not encouraging.

War now does not make sense, but Japan never had a chance to prevail in WWII, but its leaders still fought to the bitter end. There is no reason to think that current world leaders could not stumble into a conflict in which no party benefits.

Garfield does a good job of covering an awful experience that you wish never had to happen.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding narration of a conflict that every North American should know about. World War II did touch the fringes of North America, and keeping it off the continent was a Herculean task, as the US military cooperated with its Canadian neighbors to knock the Imperial Japanese Navy off of two Aleutain islands, and fought a two year war in the sea and sky. Garfield's text reads quickly, and his work in interviews and his journalistic approach lend an authorative aura to an aspect of the Second World War too often dismissed by historians concerned with larger pictures abroad.

[Glynis Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book after telling a friend about my dad’s war. He spent WW2 fighting and surviving in the Aleutian Islands. No one I have spoken with knew anything about this part of the war. My dad didn’t talk about it much other than an offhand comment or two about running out of food and the horrible cold and fog.
This book traces the campaign from before the war and places it in the larger picture of the pacific war.
It’s not the easiest read but overall it really gave a great picture of a forgotten part of history.

[JOHN · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Important Story

I thought I had studied the whole of WWII until I was recommended to this book from a Kate Shugak mystery. This book appears to have been one of the early “self-published” works. But don’t let that keep you from learning about the important action in the Aleutian Islands during the war. We owe a huge debt to those folks, of whom not many are left today. What they did, how they did it, and the conditions in which they labored — simply amazing.

[Zjjxmyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpectedly fascinating book, about a largely unknown war taken place in a largely forgotten part of the world. Yet the author did a great job showing how this war was so relevant to WWII and the world we live in today. Also a great depiction of what it was like to be in a war - the heorism, the frenzy, the bordem, the meaninglessness, and the ingenuity. I picked it up because a friend used to be stationed in the Aleutians. Would recommend it to anyone remotely interested in history.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justly a finalist for a Pulitzer when originally published, this is what history can and should look like: meticulously researched, and thoughtfully revised in later editions. While the main topics of the narrative are laid out in page-turning prose, documentation of the numerous primary sources lives out in the footnotes, and chapter notes draw a full host of social history into the military story. Exceptional book!

[Mhorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at a forgotten theater

Fascination book that, as a man who spent half his enlisted term of service in Alaska, kept me thralled from page one to the end. Absolutely amazing account. The only problem with the Kindle edition is there are lot of typos. Buckner's name is constantly misspelled as Bruenker. Other than, this is a favorite!

[Adam McDade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story about the often overlooked battles between the US and Japan along the Aleutian Islands during WWII. The stories about how the pilots executed their missions was simply amazing. They developed creative and often dangerous solutions to successfully accomplish the mission in some of the the worst weather in the world.

[John Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this book. Very detailed account of WWII in the Aleutians. The author provided numerous personal accounts of individuals involved in the fighting. This, coupled with the vivid descriptions of the horrendous weather in the Aleutians, gave me a new appreciation of the sacrifices our troops made here. Great book!

[Kent McInnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare history of a little-known battle in World War II, the only battle fought on American soil. One of the few battles that involved Naval battles, Air battles, and the first ever amphibious Army assault. It will make you appreciate any military personnel who served in Alaska and Aleutian Islands.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of people who fought in Alaska and the Aleutians during World War II where the most dangerous enemy was the weather. It is mostly a collection of memories, memorabilia and snippets of articles from the 1940's to fill out a very meager official record. As such, I found it an interesting but disjointed account of a segment of history I knew nothing about.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a good read, I’m still looking for the definitive book on this campaign. This book needed far better maps to match the battle descriptions and pulling out Dutch Harbor out of sequence was not effective.