Battle of Attu

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After a year of preparing, American forces were ready to retake the Japanese-occupied islands. On May 11, 1943, 15,000 troops landed at beaches on Attu. Initially, there was no resistance. Instead of defending the beaches, the 2,600 Japanese defenders had withdrawn to prepared fortifications in the island's mountainous interior.

For the next two weeks, American forces slowly advanced inland in bitter fighting. Despite the superior numbers and air and naval support, the Japanese network of trenches was difficult to overcome. From the high ground, they could rain down machine gun fire and grenades on the American forces. The Aleutian weather caused as many casualties as the Japanese. The poorly equipped American troops suffered thousands of cases of trench foot, frostbite, and gangrene in the freezing rain and boggy ground.

Lt. Tatsuguchi

By the end of May, 800 remaining Japanese defenders were trapped in a small pocket and running out of supplies. Instead of surrendering, the Japanese commander decided to launch a banzai attack. On the morning of May 29th, they prepared for the suicidal charge. Lieutenant Tatsuguchi, a Japanese doctor educated in America, wrote his last diary entry:

"The last assault is to be carried out. All patients in the hospital are to commit suicide...Gave 400 shots of morphine to severely wounded, and killed them...Only 33 years of living and I am to die here. I have no regrets. Banzai to the Emperor...Goodbye Tasuko, my beloved wife"

All Japanese soldiers who were able to walk took part in the charge. Some only had bayonets tied to a stick. Screaming, they charged and overran the American front lines. The Japanese soon reached surprised rear troops, where furious hand-to-hand combat ensued. Almost every Japanese soldier fought to the death. By the time the battle was over, fewer than 30 Japanese had surrendered. The rest had either died fighting or committed suicide. "I will calmly offer up my soul. I will never suffer the disgrace of being taken alive", was the Japanese soldier’s oath.

America had retaken Attu, but the victory had been costly. Nearly 4,000 American troops were killed, wounded, or injured by the cold or disease. As a percentage of forces involved, it was the second-deadliest battle in the Pacific War. Only Iwo Jima was more costly.

Bringing down wounded, Battle of Attu

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