Castner's Cutthroats: Saga of the Alaska Scouts

by Jim Rearden

Innokenty McBratney, the half-Aleut son of a Scot trader from the Aleutian island of Attu' Talky LLoyd, a renegade Colorado Cowboy turned Alaska guide/trapper; Jonny Blackwolf, and Athapaskan from the arctic Koyukuk valley; Short the Bear, a trapper from deep in the Wrangell Mountains; Silver Fox Will Rooney, a trapper/commercial fisherman from Bristol Bay. These are the heroes of this exciting tale of the Alaska Scouts who played a key role in the Aleutian Campaign of WWII. World War II was imminent in 1941, when, searching the ranks for woodsmen for his new Alaska Scout Platoon (later nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats), Col. Lawrence V. Castnet handpicked these men and others of their ilk. The usual draftees couldn't cope with Alaska's harsh wilderness--these Alaskans could. We accompany these adventurous Alaskans as they gain their wilderness skills. We learn how they were selected for Castner's elite platoon, and how their wilderness backgrounds prepared them for scouting and the terrible battle of Attu. Although it portrays the Aleutian Campaign with historical accuracy, this is more than a war story. It is a story of early 20th-century Alaska and how a handful of extraordinary Alaskans participated in the war.

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Karolinde (Kari) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the plus side, it is extremely well written and researched. It tells an virtually unknown story, but I think Rearden overly fictionalizes the story. He spent all of the time getting to know some of the scouts and their stories. He did extensive research, but instead of putting a fictional character amongst their stories, he gives their actions and adventures to a fictional "squad." I must admit that it really bother's me.

Admittedly I didn't realize this was a novel and not a history book. The endnotes and photos were the best part of the book, but maybe because that's what I really wanted.

[Myra Scholze · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the Alaskan adventure aspect, but I wish it had been a nonfiction account instead of a fictionalized account with elements of truths tossed in. I felt that made it harder to appreciate the facts amid the fiction. However, my biggest complaint was that the that the non-Alaska-native author chose to write from an Unangan (Aleut) perspective. The war effort in the Aleutians was SO devastating to the traditional cultures and people, many of which have never recovered, and it really bothers that the author felt it was okay to take on that identity. The books does mention some of the mistreatment the Unangan peopl suffered, but it's largely lost among the war tales. Overall, an entertaining read with some interesting factual elements from the Aleutian campaign, but not quite what I was looking for.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author dubbed this book 'faction,' and that's a pretty good description of what it is. A book based on historical events that's mostly fiction.
A large portion of the books focuses on the lives of the main characters before and after the war. These stories and characters are all fictional. What little remains to focus on WWII, about 1/3 of the book, is also liberally sprinkled with fiction. What little military history there is in the book is used mostly as the basis for fiction. As a story of WWII fiction it is relatively interesting, but mostly because it takes place in locations and conditions that other WWII fictions don't cover.
So if you want to learn about the campaign in the Aleutians and Alaska you are much better off reading Wikipedia.

[Spencer Korson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this account more than any I have read for a long time (maybe ever). Rearden is an excellent story teller!

[Janalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the photos! The history is amazing! But I am not as much a fan of a created storyline, I love facts and accounts, it’s still a good book for what it is

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun to read. One of the top historical fictions I have read.

[Michel Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book, Rearden's extensive research and writing abilities gave me a much greater respect and understanding of what the Alaskan Scouts endured to save the islands during the Aleutian Campaign. I must say I was disappointed though in the fictional pieces of the book but I am not a fiction fan so of course that wouldn't be a favorite for me. All in all a very good read and well worth the time, Rearden wrote the book well.