Stepping Stones to Nowhere: The Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and American Military Strategy, 1867-1945

The barren and bleak Aleutian Islands were a mostly forgotten extension of the Northwest Territory until World War II. Purchased in 1867 through the efforts of Secretary of State William H. Seward, American ownership of Alaska and the Aleutian chain were perceived as a means to project American dominance in the Pacific. In 1942 the Japanese landed on Kiska and Attu islands in an unsuccessful attempt to draw the U.S. carrier fleet away from Midway Island. They continued their occupation until driven out in 1943 by some of the most bloody fighting of the war. In this major contribution to a little-studied field, author Galen Perras draws on material from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States to examine the military strategy and impact of flawed decision-making on the Aleutian conflict. This well-researched history is an impressive addition to the annals of the Pacific war. 14 photographs. Line drawings. 3 maps. Paperback. 6 x 9 inches.

Publisher/Supplier: Naval Inst Pr

Date Published: 2003

Binding: Paperback

ISBN: 1591148367

Language: en

Pages: 304

Length: 6 inches,Width: 0.75 inches,Height: 8.75 inches