Japanese graves sought[Attu Island Alaska-World War II]

The Washington Times ^ | 18 July 2007 | AP

[BGHater]

The Japanese government has resumed a search for the remains of World War II soldiers said to be buried in mass graves on the Aleutian island of Attu, U.S. officials said.

More than 60 years after one of the deadliest battles of the war, the bodies of nearly 2,500 Japanese soldiers still lie beneath the bog of the tiny fog-draped island at the western tip of the chain, according to estimates by the Department of Defense.

Last week, a group of Japanese and U.S. officials made a four-day trip to the island and used shovels and pickaxes to verify the location of burial sites mapped by the Japanese government in 1953 and by the U.S. Navy.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is studying the feasibility of excavating the remains and taking them back to Japan for reburial, said Maj. Christopher Johnson, a policy adviser in the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office at the Pentagon.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Coyle, who commands 20 Coast Guard members stationed on Attu, said he found two left boots made of rubber containing foot bones and a leather pouch that soldiers may have used to hold bullets. The group also found an old wooden cross in a valley thought to contain the bodies of 501 Japanese soldiers.

After a short ceremony to honor the dead, Japanese officials reburied the remains, said Maj. Johnson, who was also on the expedition.

Japanese forces landed on Attu and the neighboring island of Kiska on June 7, 1942, in the only land invasion of the United States during World War II.

[Virulas]

There’s one thing I can’t abide, and I’ll bet you feel the same way, and that’s being treated like a schmuck on wheels.

[PAR35]

I read that the U.S. Soldiers that were sent to retake Attu Island were trained for Desert Warfare and not fully-equiped at all for the Winter-Tundra like climate.

That's fair enough, as the armored troops sent to North Africa were the only ones not trained in desert warfare, as I recall.

[Enterprise]

The Japanese also gave the U.S. a gift, although unintended. An intact Zero was recovered. The information gleaned was greatly helpful for our fighter pilots.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

Thanks for noticing my post.

Sometimes, I am tempted to put one up demanding, "Have you all got me on a pay-no-mind list?" Unfortunately, few would realize what a portentous remark that was and they probably would not even hire extra muscle for the next FR Love Boat cruise. ;-p

[AU72]

My wife’s Grandfather was the Transport Commander for the Division that landed on Attu and saw first hand how determined the Japanese were to stand the ground until dead.

[Vigilanteman]

It is amazing how much knowledge and information Freepers can add on almost any subject.

Years ago, I saw one of the first American fighter trainers based on the Zero captured in the Aleutians. As I recall the story, the pilot of the plane attempted a crash landing when he ran out of fuel-- a lucky shot had put a leak in his fuel tank without him realizing it. Unfortunately for him, the landing was hard enough to break his neck, but not hard enough to seriously damage the plane, so we got to reverse engineer the Zero.

On Germany owning up to WWII era atrocities and Japan not doing so, the explanation is actually quite simple and logical:

1. Hitler came to power by election and was elevated to Chancellor when Hindenberg died naturally. Therefore, the people and, by extension, the successor governments, share responsibility.

2. The military dictatorship in Japan came to power through a coup. Therefore, there is no legitimate connection between them and the subsequent governments or the people.

[johnny7]

The military dictatorship in Japan came to power through a coup. Therefore, there is no legitimate connection between them and the subsequent governments or the people.

You funny...

[ExcursionGuy84]

And, my biggest guess mainly, those Soldiers that weretrained for Winter warfare had their deployments cut out and firmly-set on the Mountains of Italy when the Allies jumped into that theater.

[mikey9]

I spent a year on Attu back in 79/80. A year was enough but, would love to go back. WWII artifacts all over the place. I can imagine what it was like living in tents during the winter. LOTS of snow and high winds.

[ExcursionGuy84]

All over the place!?!?!

D'oh1

Any idea how much a travel ticket to the isle would be? Does Alaska Airlines have an express soi-vice out that far?

[US41]

I have 32 pictures I have scanned in this afternoon of my grandfather and his buddies on Attu in 1943. They were with the 4th ID. After the war, my grandfather was horribly shell-shocked and was unable to watch even a rated PG western where people were shot without getting sick or bursting into tears. But you wouldn’t know it looking at these photos of him and his buddies. Anyone interested?