America at War: The Aleutians 1942–43

It is often overlooked that in 1942 the Japanese managed to successfully invade and conquer a part of American territory. This was the first time since 1815 that this had happened. Capturing the Aleutian Islands, located in the Alaskan territory, was seen by the Japanese as vital in order to protect their northern defensive perimeter. Fighting in the Aleutians was uniquely brutal. It was a barren and rugged landscape of icy mountains and thick bogs, with a climate of constant snow, freezing rains, and windstorms. Join Duane E. Shaffer for a discussion of this interesting campaign.