The Capture of Attu: A World War II Battle As Told by the Men Who Fought There

by Mitchell, Robert J.

• ISBN13: 9780803295575
• ISBN10: 080329557X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

In 1942 Attu, the westernmost island in the Aleutian chain, was home to two Americans and forty-five Aleut hunters and their families. Located one thousand miles from the Alaska mainland and isolated by year-round damp fogs which manage to survive the constant high winds, Attu was called by an early visitor "the lonesomest spot this side of hell." In June 1942 Attu and the nearby island of Kiska were invaded by the Japanese in the hopes of accomplishing several goals: forestalling use of the islands by the Americans, hindering U.S.-Soviet cooperation, and establishing bases for attacks on the American mainland. On 11 May 1943, the U.S. effort to retake Attu began. The struggle was essentially an infantry battle. The ever-present fog, rain, and high wind limited the use of air power, and the craggy terrain made mechanized equipment next to useless. The infantry retook the island foot by foot. Lieutenant Robert J. Mitchell was one American wounded in the battle. During his convalescence he took down the accounts of the survivors while their memories were fresh. He presents them here in their own immediate, direct, and informal language.

Author Biography

Gregory J. W. Urwin is a professor of history at Temple University. Among his books are Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island and Custer Victorious: The Civil War Battles of General George Armstrong Custer, both available from the University of Nebraska Press.

Table of Contents

Map: North Pacific Ocean	p. viii
Preface	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
The Battle of Attu
The Island of Attu	p. 1
The Japanese Take Attu	p. 2
Preliminary Operations Against Attu	p. 3
American Preparations for Invasion	p. 4
The Advance on Attu	p. 5
Massacre Bay	p. 7
Stalemate in Massacre Valley	p. 9
The Opening of Clevesy Pass	p. 12
The Landing at Red Beach	p. 13
The Provisional Battalion	p. 15
The Capture of the Japanese Base	p. 16
The Battle for Chichagof	p. 17
Aid from Japan	p. 18
The Taking of the Fish Hook	p. 18
Yamasaki's Decision	p. 20
Conclusion	p. 23
Personal Narratives of Attu
Foreword	p. 24
Massacre Valley
The Landing of the Artillery	p. 25
Advance Into Massacre Valley--The Right Flank	p. 27
Advance Into Massacre Valley--The Left Flank	p. 31
Attack on Jarmin Pass	p. 33
The Signal Corps in Foxholes	p. 34
Artillery Sniping	p. 35
Caring for the Wounded in Massacre Valley	p. 35
The Contact Between Southern and Northern Forces	p. 38
The Attack on Clevesy Pass--1	p. 40
The Attack on Clevesy Pass--2	p. 42
The Attack on Cold Mountain from Jarmin Pass	p. 43
The Taking of Cold Mountain	p. 44
The Taking of Engineer Hill	p. 46
The Taking of Point Able--1	p. 47
The Taking of Point Able--2	p. 51
Holtz Bay
The Attack on Holtz Bay	p. 52
Jeeps at Red Beach	p. 56
Crossing the Ridge to Holtz Bay	p. 57
The Gunner's Revenge	p. 59
Night Patrol	p. 59
Captured Mortars	p. 60
Duplex Foxhole	p. 61
Memories	p. 62
Lost Opportunity	p. 64
The Landing at Austin Cove	p. 64
The Battle for Chichagof
The Attack on Sarana Nose--1	p. 68
The Attack on Sarana Nose--2	p. 69
Over the Hill	p. 72
Direct Fire	p. 73
Patrolling the Heights	p. 74
An Attu Sunday	p. 76
One-Man Army	p. 78
Pin-Up Girl	p. 79
The Attack on Fish Hook Ridge	p. 80
Air Support	p. 82
Mission Accomplished	p. 83
Mortar Accident	p. 84
Passing the Ammunition	p. 85
Advancing on the Fish Hook--1	p. 85
Advancing on the Fish Hook--2	p. 88
Platoon Action	p. 90
The Rule of Chance	p. 92
The Weight of Numbers	p. 92
The Radio that Turned Jap	p. 93
Creature Comfort	p. 94
The Attack on Buffalo Ridge	p. 95
An Indian Game	p. 97
The Taking of Vanderlaan Peak	p. 100
Counterattack and Cleanup
The Breakthrough--1	p. 102
The Breakthrough--2	p. 105
The Story of a Clearing Station	p. 108
The Story of a Supply Dump	p. 116
The Engineers Fight as Infantry	p. 118
A Day in Hiding	p. 119
Rear Clearing Station	p. 122
Little Flower	p. 124
Doctors and Wounded	p. 125
Flanking Fire	p. 127
Mopping Up	p. 128
The Taking of Chichagof Village	p. 129
The Aftermath--1	p. 130
The Aftermath--2	p. 132
Paper Bullets	p. 133
Notches on the Rifle	p. 134
Post-Battle Casualties	p. 136
Prisoners of War	p. 136
Finale	p. 139
Index	p. 140
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