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Aleutian Islands: |
| The Aleutian Islands are located off of the southern coast of Alaska. In World War II, when Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was to invade Midway Island in 1942, he sent a small force to occupy the islands of Attu and Kiska, located in the Aleutian chain. This move was meant to nullify any attempts to use Alaska as a staging area for troops in the Pacific by the Allies. However, the occupation of American soil only caused the United States to feel seriously threatened. The only choice was to retake the islands. In May of 1943, U.S. troops began landing on Attu. After eighteen days of fighting, the Japanese engaged in a suicide charge against United States forces. The attempt to liberate Kiska was not enacted until three months later, when a combined Canadian and American force landed on Kiska. After five days of searching, it was found that the Japanese had stealthily evacuated the island under the cover of fog and darkness. |
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