Documentary On Japanese Invasion Of Alaska

[Mulboyne]

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South Bend Tribune: Japanese invasion of Alaska recounted
Bill Jones fumes at the sight of the Japanese monument [a memorial to the Japanese dead] on the tundra of Attu, one of Alaska's Aleutian Islands. "That thing shouldn't be here," he says. His lip quivers and his voice cracks as he recalls fighting Japanese soldiers in this forgotten World War II wasteland. "It doesn't belong on Attu. It doesn't belong on Engineer Hill." The scene is documented in "Red, White, Black & Blue," a film that tells the story of the little-known Japanese invasion of Alaska and the battle to take it back...An hour-long cut of the film also will air in November on PBS' Emmy-award winning series "Independent Lens"...Putnam first came across the story of the Battle of Attu while researching a narrative script about small-unit combat in World War II. "The U.S. and Canadian governments didn't want to panic the population, so they kept it a secret," Putnam says by telephone from his home in Altadena, Calif. "The unintended result is that it's really remained an unknown story"...more...

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[ttjereth]

That was really interesting. I never even knew about the Aleutian campaign.

Thanks

[Greji]

South Bend Tribune: Japanese invasion of Alaska recounted

Thanks for that Mulboyne. The Japanese unit that invaded "Atsuto" was the Yamazaki Butai named (in the manner ofthe J-army) for their commander, a Colonel named appropriately, Yamazaki. The entire unit consisted of soldiers from Hokkaido. They repeatedly had requested reinforcements when they got established, feeling they could not repel any attempt to take the island back by the US and were told by Tokyo they would not receive any help and they must defend the island to the death.

The people of Hokkaido are still sensitive on that topic. My resident rice cooker who is a Dosanko, lost her oldest Uncle there as well as many family friends and acquaintences. The family was only told that he had been killed in battle and nothing more. They learned it was "Asuto" through talk going around, as there was enough bitter people in local government circles in Hokkaido to bitch about the Tokyo military government more or less abandoning the Yamazaki Butai. Later it was learned Tokyo would not send them any logistical supplies to include food and the survivors reported boiling and eating their leather belts and shoes after many days without food.

After I got married, I went to the then Koseisho and obtained an official certificate of death which even listed the day he was killed. If they knew the date, I could only assume he was killed early in the campaign. They even had a statement that he showed exceptional bravery and was commended by his Joshi and the Butaicho (Yamazaki(?). It was a splendid document. I don't know if they issue those for every verified death, but this one made his entire family happy. They had known only that he had supposedly died and for thirty-forty years, that was all they knew. The document could have been 95% BS, but it was good BS, because it sure made a family happy to have that closure.

As mentioned, this battle was hidden by everyone. The allies including even Russia did not want people to know that the Imperial Army had actually come North and in the case of Canada and the US, had occupied part of Alaska. On the other hand, that was the first loss (massacre if you like) of any large unit of Japanese troops since the hostilities and subsequent offensives had begun, so Tokyo didn't want anyone to find out about it either. So with the exception of those who had a direct family connection, or those who actually served there, "Atsuto" pretty much remained an unknown story until this project came along.

[Charles]

I just happened to turn the channel past "Red, White, Black & Blue" and I'm watching it now. Or more accurately, I watched it until I couldn't stand it anymore and I just turned it off. It's just a couple of angry old bigots wandering around Attu while whining about "the Japs." They're rambling on and on, with their vague recollections of the Battle of Attu. These are the LAST two guys I'd go to for accurate information about the battle. What a load of crap. The world will be a better place when these angry old coots are dead and buried.

Two thumbs down.