Oct. 2, 1911 — Aug. 16, 1943
87th Mt. Inf.
Killed in Action at Kiska,
Aleutian Islands.
Gravestones, sometimes, tell history. Sometimes a history hinted at, and known to only a few.
Kiska has no permanent population. To divert attention from Midway, the Japanese captured the island June 6, 1942. A naval weather detachment of ten men were captured. The next day the island of Attu was taken. In '43 Attu was retaken. July 28th the Japanese deserted Kiska during fog. August 15th 34,000 American, and Canadian troops came to an empty island. Some men died from booby traps left behind. 'Friendly fire' [a God awful euphemism for fratricide] saw 28 Americans, and 4 Canadians killed.
The two islands (the only American territory occupied) has remnants of the occupation, and the bombings. Live ammunition remains.
The 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment returned to leave a plaque:
"To the men of Amphibious Task Force 9 who fell here August 1943 placed here August 1983 by 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment."
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