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Situated 800 miles west of Anchorage on Amaknak Island, the Aleutian World
War II National Historic Area serves to educate present and future generations
about the critical role the Aleutian Islands played in the defense of North
America during the Second World War. The Historic Area spreads out over
134 acres, encompassing the ruins of the US Army base Fort Schwatka, which
stood 1,000 feet above the Bering Sea. During the summer of 1942, the United
States and Japan engaged in fierce fighting in the Aleutians, with Japan
seizing occupation of the islands of Agattu, Attu, and Kiska. The US grew
increasingly concerned that these islands would be used as a staging area
for attacks on the North American mainland. US forces focused their efforts
on reclaiming the islands, doing so in May 1943-although both sides suffered
significant casualties. The Historic Area also exists to honor the island
natives, the Aleut or Unangan people, many of whom were killed or placed
in internment camps during the war.
The Aleutian World War II National Historical Park and Visitor Center focus
on telling the story of the “Forgotten War” — the events
of the Aleutian Campaign that include the bombing of Dutch Harbor by the
Japanese in June 1942, the evacuation and internment of the Aleuts, the
Japanese invasion of the islands of Attu and Kiska, the Battle of Attu,
the Allied invasion of Kiska, and the bombing of Paramishiru. Through the
preservation and protection of World War II historic buildings and structures,
the park preserves in memory the commitment and sacrifice of the more than
100,000 American and Canadian troops once stationed on these wind-swept
islands off the western coast of Alaska. For the Unangax (Aleut) the park
is dedicated to reconciling the injustices of the Aleutian Campaign and
the suffering and loss of those forced to leave their villages and life’s
treasures behind to spend years in Southeast Alaska — only to return
home to find their villages in ruins or gone. |
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