Japan's Most Brilliant Move That Completely Shocked the US

Icy gusts whipped the desolate islands of Attu and Kiska with relentless brutality as the first enemy boots stormed the beach. It marked the first time an enemy force had invaded US soil since the War of 1812, and the Japanese aimed to let the Americans know their homeland was not safe from their reach.

Several Japanese bombers loomed on the horizon, launching an unprecedented raid on US Army and Navy installations at Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island. Fourteen bombs rained down on Fort Mears, obliterating five buildings, taking the lives of 25 soldiers, and wounding 25 more. A massive supply of 22,000 barrels of oil erupted into flames, throwing the small port settlement into chaos.

From June 3 to 7, 1942, the small Alaskan islands were overwhelmed by a Japanese invasion force of over 2,500 soldiers. Most of the US population on these islands were Native Americans, who were savagely beaten and taken prisoner. Among them were two non-native Americans, Charles and Etta Jones, who managed the local radio post. In a heroic act of defiance, Charles destroyed his radio just before being captured, denying the invaders the chance to use it against US forces.

Charles Jones faced brutal interrogation and was ultimately shot by the Japanese after refusing to repair his radio. The American island of Attu fell under the iron grip of the Japanese Empire. The US military couldn’t stand for this. They quickly cooked up a massive operation, and 12,500 US soldiers were sent to reclaim American soil in an 18-day showdown that would become one of the most lethal and harrowing fights of World War 2 for all the wrong reasons.