DIRTY SECRETS of WW2: The Defense of Alaska

Aleutian Islands Pacific theater campaign beginning June 3, 1942 was a lightly defended outpost.

[@spraudoggy]

My dad was a 17 year old kid who had never been away from home when he joined the Navy. He was stationed in Kodiak in the Navy Seabees during the last couple years of WW2. He loved his time there and made lifelong friends. We loved hearing his stories as he worked his way through the artifacts of the war he brought back with him. Didn’t matter how many times he told us, we loved every minute of it. He said he went in as “punk kid” and came back as a young man.

[@cyelver954]

This is where my dad was stationed in the Army Air Corp, not this early but a few years later. Thanks for putting this in KZbin!

[@WhuDhat]

Thanks for choosing not to bombard us with advertisements

[@johnbaumgartenjr.8825]

I was stationed on Adak from May 95-Aug 96. I was there to start closing the base down. There were two bases during the cold war. One was the air base side of things NAS/NAF. the other was the listening post or communications where they had the sattelites and radios listening in on Russia and China. I worked the fuels division refueling the aircraft. I spent 15 months, 12 days, 1 hour and 25 minutes on that POS rock and I didn't have it half as bad as those guys did back then. The sun showed for 2 weeks total while I was there. Not consecutive days. There was a thing called sunshine liberty. Which meant if the sun came out for an extended period, like most of the day, and you weren't on duty, you could stop work and enjoy the day. Yeah, we had 3 of those in 15 months. There is a sign outside the air terminal when you arrive it says "Welcome to Adak. Birthplace of the winds." NO sh**!!! tunnels between buildings for when the winters are below zero as a high.

[@johnmconger]

I went to Ann C. Stevens elementary shortly before the new school was built and subsequently closed. Adak is a different kind of place…

[@jasonwilson3181]

I run a cargo vessel out that way . Place is shit.

[@R.LeeOtherson-dt8bx]

My uncle was in the navy there. Lived in Kodiak in '97-'98, used to hang out in the mosscovered bunker ruins of Ft. Abercrombie.

[@ConvairDart106]

In 2012, we were fishing Cod, and pulled into Adak to deliver. Three of us, decided to hoof it to the bar, located in the old officers club. We struggled for over an hour in heavy wind, leaning sideways into it, just to find out, that the bar had moved! The new location, was only a ten minute walk from the boat! Needless to say, once we made it, we made damn sure that we made it all worthwhile!

[@randelldarky3920]

I fished around the Aleutians, for a couple of summers. What a beautiful and bleak place. I could see many abandoned bunkers.

[@therichyalf]

I was once told by a Grumman employee, that after the Japanese invasion of Attu, a crashed Zero was crated and sent to his Long Island Factory. He said that when they opened the wings, he saw the honeycombed reinforcement for the first time and it was incorporated it into the Hellcat design.

[@indyrock8148]

I thought you were going to say when they opened it there was a freeze dried mummified Japanese Pilot in there! LoL. But good story thanks.

[@paulredinger420]

richard flay they also learnt the characteristics of the Zero. Strengths, weaknesses ect ect. Saved a lot of our pilots and cost Japan heaps of theres.

[@thelyran]

Actually it was sent to Brisbane in Australia first,made air worthy again and all its secrets were interpreted.This other documentary didn't mention the honey-comb design but focused on the fuel tanks and a special little flap under the Zero that helped it manoeuvre so well.The pilot of the zero was dead from a broken neck,hanging upside down.But a complete aircraft.

[@robertdixon2361]

@@paulredinger420 m moo kopp mop mop

[@gregorycasey7358]

My Grandpa was in the Army there. He would tell up they would always have him go out and fish or when on the main land Hunt bear so the could have good food. He was one hell of a person with his rifle. Grew up hunting to feed the family. Then they moved him to the Big Red One on Omaha Beach. He was shot 4 days before the battle of the bulge ended. Be was a tough old bird who loved to make people laugh in tough times. I am the same way about making people laugh in hard times. Think it’s a way to relieve stress.

[@TheBardicDruid]

You really shouldn't lie, during WWII you were either in the European Theater or the Pacific Theater, they never moved people from one to the other.

[@boris2873]

They ate a fair amount caribou im sure to, they are plentiful there.

[@jim4596]

@@TheBardicDruid Google John Murray!

[@TheBardicDruid]

@@jim4596 OK dumbass, I Googled John Murray, all I found were Brits, we're talking about Americans.

[@williammawk1720]

@@TheBardicDruid I'm not so sure you are correct, I think servicemen/women were transferred from one theater to the other in some cases.

[@peterturner8570]

This guy has a good voice for narration,not annoying or nasal sounding.

[@thomaslinton1001]

He should. John Houston, a famous actor and director doing his bit to support the war effort. See Treasure of the Sierra Madre an The Maltese Falcon. Renouned his American citizenshio in 1964.

[@darlenewells3309]

Great documentary. Yes, little is known about this! Ty for posting!

[@thomasjamison2050]

My father had a friend who was in the Army during WWII. The man was sent to Alaska to command a coastal battery. The men he was to command were all these big, strong and largely inconsiderate gentlemen. They just all simply refused to take any orders, but they did job without listening to their officer. It was, for my father's friend, just a bit annoying, but he knew he couldn't handle shells those guys handled.

[@dogstar7]

Originally titled: "Report from the Aleutians" (1943) (From IMDB) "John Huston directed and narrates this Academy Award winning documentary that takes a look at the American troops who went up to protect Alaska during WWII so that it wouldn't be open to attack from the Japanese" I visited these islands in the 70's when I was in the US Coast Guard

[@glengustafson6959]

Me too. Aboard the Boutwell in the 70s. We told that same joke about a girl behind every tree. I was a sonar tech searching for Soviet submarines.

[@hugbug4408]

@@glengustafson6959 Makes u wonder y 2 atom bombs were dropped?Soviet Union under beloved Uncle Joe Stalin(a kreep)were planning on invading japan.It b the 2 atom bombs may hav thwarted their ambitions! 4 sure the Soviets under Brezhnev were aspiring 2 that area of the aleutians.Of course they had the nukes by then and got brazen in that part of the world!Korea,vietnam!

[@ricknelson4764]

I lived and worked on the island of Unalaska for 3 years and at the end of an inlet known as Captains Bay there are still 2 maybe 3 shot up ships towed there after the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor. I also had the opportunity to explore many left over military bunkers, outposts and other structures still standing.

[@paraguaymike5159]

Rick Nelson Cool!

[@wicked313diesel]

Most of that stuff has been pillaged and destroyed by people and the weather.

[@Hudson_pacific]

Did you work for osi?

[@Hudson_pacific]

@MJW copy I lived out there for 9 years. I rented the Quonset hut out by the pot dock

[@Chris-vs4wt]

I have taken a great interest in this theater of war. My great grandad was an MP in Alaska right after they pushed the enemy out of there

[@eckhal2]

Under reported part of WW2, Excellent 👍💯❤️🇺🇸

[@paraguaymike5159]

Priceless. Thanks for uploading. I had to laugh...morale was great. Isnt it always?

[@angelmorales8936]

I've been to the bunker on the cover photo for this video, it's up on bunker hill overlooking Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. I was doing seasonal work for Unisea seafood's, there are many other smaller shelters on the backside of the hill. there's also a lot of two man gun bunkers along the waterfront on the roadsides.

[@Dwendele]

Never hear enough about the fight for the Aleutians. My dad did his tour there, as an Engineer.

[@Dwendele]

@James Taggert I'd have to dig out the paperwork. I'll see if I can find it.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

A Japanese sideshow to Midway, the latter battle eclipses it, but real men fought [and died] up in those wild places.

[@jamesu1857]

My uncle served in the Aleutians during the war - said it was miserable!

[@TheBardicDruid]

I watch every documentary on the Aleutian Islands during WWII, I had an uncle there, he flew P 40 Warhawks with 343d Fighter Grp, 11th AAC. I often wonder if any of the fighter pilots is him, I never met him, he was shot down on June 4, 1942.

[@WhuDhat]

I like to think you have laid eyes on him and he was impressive

[@HaNguyen-fo7dd]

L

[@kenshores9900]

It is not appreciated the things that the men that fought on the Pacific Theatre had to endure. I am not down playing the war in Europe that was its own form of Hell. The Pacific was different. The story that we had never heard was the Japanese capture of remote parts of Alaska. We also never have heard about the random Japanese attacks on the West Coast. We as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to these men that endured this so that we can have the freedoms we have.

[@upperleftcoastchelseafan7718]

Growing up in the Pacific NW in the 60's & 70's we heard and knew all about the war in the Aleutians even twenty years afterwards. Even did a school project on it when I was in Jr High (got an A). Those army pilots were unbelievably brave men and skilled as hell flying in that weather. Any man who served in that hellish weather should have all of our utmost respect (as well as all who served).

[@peterbamforth6453]

The west coast was lit up like a christmas tree,even after many warnings by Churchill, an insane american general chose to ignore the warnings. He also hated the british especially Churchill.Then wondered why U boats were sinking shipping outside us ports.

[@roberttrout3588]

We today, have no concept, or idea what it meant to be in “total war” where losing means a hellish future for you and your descendants 🙏🇺🇸 Dad was Navy, aboard the AM102 USS Motive a mine sweeper, I have much memorabilia he left behind at his passing, including the flag and commission pendant that flew on her in the Aleutians and at Iwo Jima. I grew up hearing his war stories, I loved it, and I never realized that through telling he was healing. We grew close, I do miss him so. And that is why I fly the flag, to honor Dad, and the nation he fought to defend. 🙏🇺🇸

[@darlenewells3309]

@@roberttrout3588 yes Robert, respect to your father...the younger generation have no clue as to how close they are to having their freedoms lost..as a matter of fact..we see socialism rising rapidly and most think it's a good thing..it angers me because it's as if those who fought in previous wars..gave All, only for this country to fall to outright communist. The globalist agenda is slavery..it's too much to accept. Even older people are naive to what's happened n will continue if we let it!

[@ryemc915]

Yes its very sad today !!! Rememberence day was taken over by protestor in 2020 !! Disgusting!!! There is a enemy with in yet many do not see it ... they better and fast ... only takes one to look and see something is not right ... God speed to all ... rights and freedoms are now heavily under attack... construction aswell is it communists infiltration? Many are compromised politicans esp be it with their evil lust for well go look..... no conspiracy actual facts.... sad... thank you to all.that served esp in the big one.. we all owe you a huge debt...

[@treatb09]

the outpost in alaska sounds like its touching the rough bitterness of bastogne. in the way that cold, bitter, endless wind chips away at the psyche.... i doubt anything compares to what those men when through.. but nothing was easy in ww2, and no matter how much i learn, it keeps adding to the wealth of disparity in emotion through education alone

[@ConvairDart106]

I have fished out of Adak. The base is abandoned now, but nothing else has changed. Pounding ice off one's vessel, is a war in itself. Tough duty, even in a modern vessel.

[@brustar5152]

And by the time these guys were doing that, North Atlantic convoys to service a war the U.S. didn't think was theirs, had already been going through it for at least three years without having to be drafted.

[@kimmer6]

11:15 the ship behind the guy was constructed in Germany in 1907 before the Titanic was built and was the Konig Wilhelm II. It was a WWI war prize claimed by the USA and renamed the USS Madawaska. It was later renamed the USS US Grant and became an Attack Transport. My dad served on it for the entire war until it dropped him off in New Orleans after WWII ended.

[@kimmer6]

Johnathan, That may be....but I wasn't around yet. And they turned the ship into rebar, chain link fence, and pots and pans before I was born.

[@theodorepatton887]

Great channel,,, love these patriotic documentaries

[@thomaskowaleski6187]

My dad was in a unit in California when they were to be under attack. His unit was suppose to go to Africa. They were loaded up and sent to Attu with desert gear. The brass were scared to death that the public would find out about the Japanese attack. Fear of landings on the West Coast were rampant at the time. It appeared there was no real planning to coordinate all the units when they landed. A lot of friendly fire incidents.

[@susansloat5666]

My father (who died a few years after I was born) apparently shared the same story! Must have been at Fort Ord together, etc. A 75th anniversary exhibit is opening in Anchorage May-Nov of 2018...hope to see it.

[@mandelorean6243]

Blue on blue, ground shooting their own planes? Or plane on plane?

[@ralphhutchinson2354]

Spent a couple of weeks at the air strip on Shemya doing a Communications upgrade for the Military, quite the place. Tunnels between the buildings so people didn't get swept off during the storms.

[@deepbludude4697]

I spent some time in Attu and Shimya very interesting found some cool things exploring Attu in my off time and while waiting for a CG 130 to recover us. Also Wake island good times!

[@cannon3267]

the port there is called sweepers cove. the high peak with the year round snow is Mt. Moffett. the wooden pier was still in use when i was there in '74. don't know how they got so many sunny days. i was there 18 months and saw the sun shine all/most of the day 5 times.

[@timmytyphoon]

The sounds effects that the film makers used in some spots crack me up. I have never known a B24 Liberator to sound like a Piper Cub when running at full power on takeoff.

[@thepezfeo]

+Timmytyphoon That particular B24 was equipped with four "Briggs & Stratton Fj-1" instead of the usual "Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp" :P

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

I could excuse this at the time this was produced, but the fact is Horrywood has made far more serious mistakes in "dubbing" up until ....today, and in multi million dollar productions

[@makotobaba3927]

Pezfeo n

[@steventaylor8785]

Oh well, as long as you know better. The editors used what they had to work with.

[@djsi38t]

No,that's a cessna 185e skywagon with pontoons.

[@tomhawkins8855]

Can't imagine serving in such a hostile environment, let alone fight. Those men aboard the Clemson/Wickes destroyers (four pipers) must have really suffered as they were known to have really poor sea keeping abilities. Miles of steel runway mat, fun!

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

Amazing, thanks for sharing!!!

[@MICHAELSTEWART]

i spent a year up on ADAK in the '60's. much improved over what these guys had to endure during WW2. i salute them.

[@jamebrooke894]

MICHAEL STEWART A buddy of mine was stationed there in the 70's in the Marines. Told me about the forest there, 2 foot tall pine trees. Worse then Diego Garcia he said.

[@justinmartyr4420]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3yzh5p6as-bhKc ===> *ProBiotics, Fructose, BLoatedBeLLy, 1947 USA!*

[@eliotness7274]

ASA like me? Didn't go there in the 60's but rather to the Korean DMZ and Sinop, Turkey

[@peterdansie9195]

MICHAEL STEWART

[@boris2873]

When I was 5 we moved to Cold Bay Alaska on the Aleutian chian. At that time in the early 1970s all the war debris was stil there. Crashed planes, military vehicles, radio stations and a red brick building on the tundra that was the body incinerator. Its mostly been cleaned up now. But the military barried lots of stuf rather then haul it back to the lower 48.

[@RTStx1]

The same way we find artifacts of war today; buried.

[@Gwaithmir]

I had an uncle who served in the army as a cook on Attu shortly after the airfield was completed to the war's end.

[@CrazyFunnyCats]

You have awesome videos👍

[@nawbawkmarangnawbawk9461]

Hi, thank you DOCUMENTARY TUBE.

[@Steven-D-Allan]

Was a few years ago now, 1980's, but I think the US base and airport/runway on Adak is still there an operational - thankfully modernised.

[@shadetreejoe3986]

There was still a Naval Air Station at Adak in the late 1980s. Our squadron {VMA(AW)-242} deployed there for a training operation there in 1986 or 1987 from MCAS El Toro.

[@brendanmahony9831]

Attu and Kiska I remember reading about them years ago and seeing a movie crazy

[@terrencejohnson85]

If you travel South of Anchorage, to Seward Alaska, you can take a short boat ride to Caines Head, where you can view the bunkers and gun emplacements, meant to protect us from a Japanese invasion.

[@bethscott6323]

my brother sent this to me, because over 63 years ago I was born on Adak in 1959. i left as a baby, but my older brothers talk fondly of there time there. one story that was often told was of my brother Rick was asked on T.V. what he wanted for Christmas and is unusual answer was, my 5 year old brother wanted was a bag of switches. how funny was that?

[@toastnjam7384]

Aside from the battle of Hong Kong I believe this was the only time Canadian land forces participated in the Pacific campaign.

[@ryemc915]

Check out Mark Felton on this i think there may be more .. attached to other units ....

[@dashcroft1892]

I think you are correct, although Canadian units and personnel fought under British Command against the Japanese in Malaya, Singapore, Java, Burma and India. Additionally, special forces, including “Force 136” volunteers and SOE members operated behind enemy lines throughout the war in Japanese-occupied territory. A Canadian infantry division was also readied for the allied invasion of the Japanese home islands in Fall 1945 - which fortunately proved unnecessary after Japan surrendered in August 1945.

[@seegurke93]

WOW ! After years of History study I did not know that there were Fights up North in the US ! WOW- THANKS! :) - Smarter every day

[@rondyechannel1399]

As a child on Kodiak in the early 1950's I often traveled to a airfield called Chiniak an old bomber base secured at that time by Navy. Also traveled to other WWII fortifications by boat on other small islands in the area, with navy hunters for bear.

[@TheDustysix]

Read about the Battle of the Atlantic the U-Boat War against the Kriegsmarine. The longest running Campaign in WW2. Civilians could see ships being sunk off our shores, with the slain washing up on the beach.

[@Therevdon]

Uhhh... Alaska wasn't a US state during WW2...

[@TheDustysix]

It and Hawaii were territories then.

[@andrewarmstrong7310]

@Therevdon The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska. The territory was created as the District of Alaska on May 17, 1884.

[@sailorbychoice1]

Listening to the narration; I have the sudden urge to apply for an American Express Card, and not to leave home without it.

[@thedukeofcalifornia129]

Watched from start to finish and liked it. Ques: How could the Army Air Corps tell the difference between flack gun ground fire -from- bombs hitting their targets?

[@collinhennessy1521]

Puffs of smoke in the air.

[@Jaggerbush]

I was stationed here too just like everyone else and their dad. Maybe we should all have a reunion 😅

[@fleetwoodray]

1st invasion on U.S. soil, since war of 1812. Very interesting history about Aleutian battles. There was even hand to hand combat which was horrific as it was later told.

[@user-bc3pc5gu2y]

What a shame. I grew up in new york and my grandfather was a seabee close to and then in japan. In school we learned lots of european history, but left out important parts of american history, like the aleutian battles. This you tube video is the first i have heard of it and i am in my mid forties.

[@mikes1345]

Also helped drive the building of the Alcan highway to connect alaska to the rest of the U.S. for land transport.

[@creek3205]

Top of bunker hill is beautiful view

[@donaldgrant9067]

Thank goodness I'm too old to fight in the next war, because I would be stationed in Alaska and freeze my butt off. I always feared that while I was young enough to be drafted.

[@clvanhorne7841]

Ur uncLe U.S. wud kik yer ass....my G. granpa (wrong side) Sherman Grant Q. W. outta MI wud caniP!

[@davidstewart3805]

John Houston... I get his voice and his father’s voice (Walter) mixed up.

[@donnamiller4623]

lived there for a year 1/2 with my husband and to kids it sucked , but fishing was good

[@smug8567]

You can see the great difference between the pre 1930's vehicles and the 40's and post WW2 vehicles.

[@rexfrommn3316]

I couldn't make it through this film. The reality is that the Japanese merely feinted to go to Dutch Harbor trying to draw U.S. carriers away from Midway. We had enough aircraft and men in Alaska to keep them at bay. The Alaskan Highway was built about this time to give another supply route other than the sea. The main concern the Japanese had was that we might invade them from the north following the Kurile Islands but the weather was so hideous as to preclude any such thoughts. The constant air patrols had high losses. Many U.S. bombers splattered themselves all over the runway trying to land in the fog. In these days they lack GPS, computers, and satellite navigation. I have read about from the official Army Air Force history of the Aleutians. It was also not a place to land in the sea either because you would die of hyperthermia in about two minutes or less. There was some fighting on Kiska but Attu was abandoned by submarines when the Japanese realized it was costing them more to have a base there than it was ever worth.

[@jdsol1938]

it was both a waste of time and troops to bother retaking the two islands. it was also a demonstration of how stupid some area commanders were

[@jimwolaver9375]

If the Japanese didn't actually take any Alaskan Islands, what were all those bombers attacking? You are right, part of the reason the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor was to get the US Carriers to charge north toward Alaska as a way to control our movements. However, they did want Dutch Harbor as an extension of their defensive perimeter - they wanted to make sure we could not send anymore planes to bomb Tokyo like we did in April of 1942. When they lost the carrier and the shore bombardment cruiser, they broke off Dutch Harbor and settled for secondary objectives, better to extend the defensive perimeter only to Kiska than not at all.

[@LuckyShitZu]

A flight of 4 bombers with the escort fighters went missing and it was not till 2011 that the wereks were found along with a community they had built. About 18 people were still alive at the time.

[@debbieclease3173]

my dad was from vernon BC CANADA IN fought on kiska island

[@JDPwatching]

I could listen to John Houston talk all day. I kept picturing the cartoon Gandalf as I watched this. :-)

[@benlacara2246]

The narrator sounds like Ray Walston from "My Favorite Martian"

[@walkerbelle]

The narrator is John Huston.

[@limpet77]

Which aircraft is that, at 15:32? Single engine fighter, with a tricycle undercarriage, and perspex canopy?

[@matpatt07]

p-39 airacobra.

[@sociallyconscientous]

The narrator is the famous director, John Ford. What I find interesting is the shoe string budget this operation ran on. The destroyers are 4 stackers of WW 1 vintage. Some of the artillery is old vintage is well. Besides the vintage armaments, the infantry arriving are still wearing "Smoky the Bear" hats again gear going back to the first WW. As a propaganda piece at the beginning of our involvement, it does a great job especially being produced in color.

[@galeng73]

Given the date, I think you might actually find that was the actual equipment that was in use. We were, shall we say, a bit slow going at the start of the war. For example, they used wooden rifles/guns and trucks with the word "TANK" painted on the side of it during the earliest training. No, no I am not kidding. The only things I am concerned about, concerning authenticity, is the sound effects. However, that might be an artifact of the recording equipment but bombers, especially from that era, were lower notes and louder volumes. There's also the matter of some rounds that were being carried and loaded. I believe those should be .50 caliber rounds but they look like they're larger than that. I am not sure what to think at the moment and it's early morning so I've not taken the time to do any research. I can, if need be, if you're actually interested but your comment is about 9 months old.

[@galeng73]

Michael Hardy I am forced to wonder if you even read what I wrote. I'm thinking you did not or that you simply have poor reading comprehension. Still, you said words so that's something. More importantly, they're almost all words in the right places which is something to be proud of, if nothing else. Hint: None of what you said has anything to do with what I said. Feel free to try again.

[@oldtimerocker52]

i agree with you on being a bit slow my dad joimed before pearl harbor and he talked about training with wooden rifles and wearing civilian clothes also also he mentioned the trucks with tank painted on them.

[@Momoneymmiproblems]

oldtimerocker52 you are correct that non functioning rifles were used at the beginning in basic training. However what Galen fails to mention is this battle was a diversionary attack to midway. Happened nearly a year after we ramped up military production, and only a few months before troops were landed in Africa. Meaning troops were probably on their way. The actual action didn't happen for several months later, and when the us invaded the Japanese had already retreated. Basically in as nice a way of putting it if you dried what Galen said out and mixed it into your garden you would get some great plants.

[@galeng73]

Sam Moon You've more patience than I. I'm not actually sure what they're responding to. They don't appear to have actually read what I wrote or have inferred all sorts of things I did not say. I try to leave the Internet crazies alone unless I'm really high.

[@Milkman3572000]

Spent 6 months there in 1988, wish I had known the history of Adak back then.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Six months? Probably a VP crewman. I looked at my pictures but by then the big glorious tail decorations had been removed.

[@bobd9193]

I was there 87 to 90, I was stationed at NSGA. LPO of MWRS. We might have bumped into one another.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@bobd9193 Could be. NSGA had one of the more tolerable snack bar kind of places. I worked downtown in the ASWOC. The potholed "S" curves discouraged much travel back and forth between downtown and NSGA but I enjoyed visiting Candlestick bridge and Zeto point.

[@walterzoomie]

My grandfather was a Navy SeaBee at Adak. He said there was a beautiful woman behind every tree there. ;) It looks like a miserable hell hole.

[@markfryer9880]

So it was a double joke. No trees and therefore no beautiful women.

[@GoDodgers1]

I imagine even a toothless fat ugly eskimo woman that stinks of seal blubber, would have looked beautiful to these guys.

[@papahoe6718]

Walter Zoomie wow my dad was there. He said the same thing

[@gorillaguerillaDK]

+Mark Fryer Having a good sense of humor during hardship is, (IMHO), a sign of strength and it's also an important coping mechanism.... And this is "dad-humor" at its finest!

[@AdamCSmith]

My 6th grade teacher was a SeaBee and he used to say “I’ve forgotten more swear words than you’ll ever know!"

[@davebadge41]

Canada was there as well fighting too

[@michaelashley3445]

so were the Russians, but they wont ever tell you that.

[@johnbasiglone1219]

My wife is Canadian, our children are dual citizens. I know more about Canadian politics than my wife and her family and they are educators or retired educators with degrees from Canadian universities. Quite often, I will remind my wife she is still a subject of that old bitch across the pond. Yeah, the old woman whose homely mug is plastered on your currency and that she owns 97 percent of ALL land in Canada in Fee Simple Absolute. Canadian people only hold an inferior interest in property. If she declared that she revokes these inferior interests, by law, the Canadian people would be shit out of luck; this is a fact. She may feign being a figure head, but in reality, she holds nearly the same power as royalty of old, they just lead you to believe otherwise.

[@TVTransmo]

41:07 OMG! ...THEY ARE FIGHTING THE BORG! :D

[@BadJellyman100]

you're right it does look like a borg cube

[@hugbug4408]

Notice the doughboy helmets worn in the early phases and then the turtle type worn not 2 much later in that operation;just a tidy bit of sum trivia.

[@the_arson_bean]

In Alaska half the year its burning and the other half its freezing, but its beautiful up here!! =)

[@horatiodreamt]

Good vid. Was the narrator John Huston?

[@jumpinjojo]

horatiodreamt Yup

[@stuart8663]

Clearly, some people ought not to post comments on You Tube. Can't you trolls understand that it was an informational film, in context for its time, with a healthy patriotic bias. Leave it alone.

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

America-hating is leftard-fashionable nowadays, more than ever

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@Sean Embry leftard talk

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@Sean Embry look who's talking

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@Sean Embry the unintelligent one is the one who refuses to see the evidence.

[@Charlesputnam-bn9zy]

@Sean Embry hollow sounds

[@JMDinOKC]

I haven't watched the whole film, but the narrator certainly sounds like John Huston.

[@jumpinjojo]

JMDinOKC Because it is.

[@judithbritt6552]

My daughter was stationed on Adak naval base in 1991. I believe adak was closed in the early 90s.

[@Hudson_pacific]

The base closed but the town is still there. I was out there on in 2009

[@bobd9193]

I was stationed on Adak 1987 to 1990. it was a 2 year billet and I extended a year because me and my family loved it. After being there for three years, I tried to extend for another year but was denied. Which made no sense because it was type 3 duty, "Isolation duty". Which was thought to be the worst type duty you could get. So the Navy, in their infinite knowledge, Took me from type 3 duty, which no one wanted. where I wanted to stay, And sent me to shore duty in San Diego, Which was type 1 duty, The type of duty which everyone wanted. Go figure. I retired from the Navy in 1995, But the 3 years I spent on Adak will forever be the best years of my life.

[@hesseldijkstra5327]

@@bobd9193 Perhaps you remember a Dutch blue and white 43' sailing boat in 1989. We ran out of food and fuel due to weather conditions on our way from Japan to Vancouver. We were allowed to stock up and get fuel and shelter from hurricane force winds.

[@koopatroopas8477]

that was cool

[@VictorLepanto]

It is strange seeing this focus on the war in Alaska. It is usually treated as a mere distraction from Midway.

[@johnpaul3800]

Adak is like getting stuck on Sandpoint yup been there....

[@pizzafrenzyman]

Why not layout the runways on a slight slope so that the water and snow melt run off naturally?

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I think the problem was that the water would not flow. It is mud on bedrock or permafrost.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

@@ronaldderooij1774 I suppose so you're correct, but if the ground was too soft then the marsden mats would get lumpy and very dangerous for takeoffs and landings. They chose the airfield sites with thoughtful consideration. I can think of one example when a site was chosen, only to be abandoned once the SeaBees declared the site unsuitable after a few weeks clearing and leveling. So a completed airfield had to have met some minimum requirement for suitability. Maybe what we see in this video is the theoretical minimum. For sure sloping was used. Check out this Alaskan service area: www.airfieldsfreeman.com/AK/Airfields_AK_htm_m1e510d5d.jpg There are several other great photos from Aleutian airfields illustrating sloping, but I won't bore you any longer.

[@jayschmarje6192]

Amazing, never an ammo shortage not the Allies or the Enemy...... but today an ammo , parts , guns etc. all in short , wait .... none to be found and if found very expensive.. what's up with this???

[@donedvalds9041]

Let's see... were did I leave that Gold dredge?

[@studentjohn35]

Is that the voice of Edward Everett Horton?

[@stanford2444]

The scenery coming back is nice even if only 2 engines work? I only see 2 engine planes

[@paullitke6245]

There were both 2 & 4 engine bombers. If you can see that the engines are still running, then you're alive to know you're going home, and the scenery is ALWAYS beautiful on the way home!

[@mikemills69]

"Put down by the infantry, of course" If you weren't essential, you laid matting..or so they say.

[@orange70383]

How fortunate one must've felt when they found out they were bound for service in this paradise.

[@maxvauderk816]

Adak wasn't fun in 87..

[@Scots_Diesel]

nice documentary but why put your logo on it ? it's not as if you own the copyright !

[@justinlarrabee7932]

The narrator makes me feel like I'm in highschool school again during movie day in history class. Im ready for a nap

[@blitznone1142]

I spent 18 months on the Rock.

[@thomaslinton1001]

Houston had quite a voice!

[@viking90706]

Bingo, you won the 64 dollar question !

[@oldgringo2001]

That's John Huston narrating.

[@vernwallen4246]

He has the voice for it.🗽🗽🗽👍👍👍

[@lindarobinson195]

The voice somewhat like the victory of sea yours Evans w Robinson

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

How is this "Forgotten" or a "Secret." Just another small campaign that any history buff should know about.

[@gorillaguerillaDK]

Think you should take into consideration how old the program is!?

[@endorsedbryce]

It's called click b8 m8.

[@arifsiddiqui4022]

great wariors indeed .

[@nbklc2m]

My dad’s uncle disappeared in the Aleutians during WW2.

[@smug8567]

Probably froze to death.

[@davidrobinson8337]

John Hueston. He's the Narrator.

[@ypop417]

My uncle was there Radar and radio

[@4u2cJoeD]

more narration would have be nice

[@bobbybabylon1385]

Kabloona diseases killed off many of the Inuit during WW2

[@warrenosborne1539]

Adak 74-75 How did they photo such good weather?

[@orabera]

Hollywood film crew of course.

[@malusmac]

That is exactly what I thought. I was there 82-83 and saw maybe 5 days that clear all year.

[@maxvauderk816]

CGI

[@orion2250]

Look how young they were

[@ChrisCoombes]

At 19:00 why would the enemy tail the returning bombers? Is it so they know where the airfield was and attack it? - wouldn't they know the location anyway?

[@sammoon2906]

Not without intelligence like following bombers to their base they wouldnt.

[@Momoneymmiproblems]

You are right. A drawback of being so remote is there were only two places that an American airfield would have been. Sam moon has no idea what he is talking about.

[@sammoon2906]

Michael Hardy Oh, so the Japanese had time to survey every island in the Aleutians before retreating and letting the Canadians and Americans kill each other... Michelle, you need to calm down. We'll talk soon enough

[@Momoneymmiproblems]

+Sam Moon Well as the army didn't do anything about the Japanese for nearly a year, and there were only two islands in Allied hands that could have housed an airfield. Yes they did. Maybe you should try doing a little research. Really anything. You keep claiming my facts are wrong but you never offer a single thing to back you up. Keep sharing your opinion. Because your opinion is you know anything, the fact is you don't. As proven by everything you've shared being proven as a lie. So go ahead post your next fantasy. We will sit down for story time with Stefan. You are really good at fiction.

[@Momoneymmiproblems]

Sam Moon Well if you want the cake, or beer it would be a smart move. Plus it would prove that you're actually coming. I mean we both know you won't ever show up. So why don't you stop posturing. Plus you want to make sure I'm here. Unless that is your plan, to show up when no one is around so you can pretend you're not a complete coward. Yes I did use Wiki to give you a very simple answer. After giving you more detailed that you couldn't figure out, I thought it would help you out. Unfortunately even the simplistic nature of Wikipedia seems a bit much for you. So if I have Down syndrome, but can still make sense of all this, what is your mental impairment. At a glance it seems like brain damage. Did you have an umbilical cord wrapped around your neck at birth? Or suffer from some other massive loss of oxygen during your life. It would go to explain a lot. Stefany, Samantha, Dumb Ass, whatever people normally call you the goal of my first comment was to be historically accurate. Goal accomplished. What was the goal of yours to show everyone how full of crap you are. Make sure everyone knows you're simply a liar who can't handle the truth? If so goal accomplished in a major way. Congratulations. I wonder what about the truth is dishonoring anyone. I can't speak on behalf of veterans but I imagine making one up, and then telling a bunch of lies on their behalf is probably what a real veteran would consider a dishonor. My original goal was simply to provide historical accuracy. My goal now is simply to call you out on all the lies. Thank you for making them so obvious. Maybe next you can lie about having a friend in the 101st airborne. You can lie about being at the battle of the bulge, and what they went through. Then when you are caught in that lie you can change it saying they weren't in the 101st they were a french civilian. Then when you are called out on that you can jump to just making insulting comments. It will be like this conversation all over again. Even better it will have the same results, you'll show you are a know nothing coward, and I'll get to do a little bit of quick research and then show everyone you are a know nothing coward. Bye Felicia (hope you get the reference)

[@alexroselle]

Doggo of war at 06:35

[@henryjraymondiii961]

I know it's not terribly important compared to this failed attack on the USA...but that sounds like John Huston narrating. Any light to shed anyone?

[@WizzRacing]

I heard you pissed someone off. If you got stationed there..

[@larrykierstead8542]

anyone recognize that narators voice? something Houston, I think, played noah in the movie The Bible.

[@justinmartyr4420]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3yzh5p6as-bhKc ===> *ProBiotics, Fructose, BLoatedBeLLy, 1947 USA!*

[@howardfortyfive9676]

JOHN HUSTON

[@0351nick-ch8ee]

I thought that a tent in mudchuk Korea was better than adak in the 80s...

[@binfur7047]

Is that a John Huston narration?

[@jumpinjojo]

Yen Fu Yup

[@MZ-bl6wg]

I’m proud to have had 2 amazing Grandfathers that fought in WW2!!! Thank God for these selfless men and I’m greatful neither are alive today in 2022 to see what’s becoming of our divided country with a leftist liberal President. Hope we can turn things around and get back to where we were , unified after 9/11, a patriotic nation unified under old Glory. 🇺🇸