Attu Island

Attu Island is a significant landmass located in the Near Islands of the Aleutian chain. It is one of the westernmost points of the U.S. state of Alaska. The island sits far from the Alaskan mainland and is northeast of Russia's northernmost Kuril Islands. To the west, across the International Date Line, lie the Russian Commander Islands. With a land area of 1,100 square kilometers, Attu is the 23rd largest island in the United States.

Because the International Date Line passes to its west, Attu is the westernmost place in the U.S. that shares the same calendar date as the rest of the country.

The history of Attu begins with the Unangan, or Aleut, people. Archaeological sites suggest the precontact population ranged from 2,000 to 5,000 people. In 1742, Russian explorer Aleksei Chirikov arrived and named the island Saint Theodore. Russian traders later stayed on the island for years to hunt sea otters. These traders often clashed with the local Unangan inhabitants. Eventually, European ships largely overlooked the island after this initial period of trade.

World War II brought dramatic changes to the island's history. On June 7, 1942, Japanese forces landed on Attu without opposition. At that time, the village population included 45 native Aleuts and two Americans. The Americans were a radio technician named Charles Foster Jones and his wife, Etta. The Japanese garrison eventually grew to approximately 2,300 troops. Their goals included creating a barrier between the U.S. and Russia and preparing air bases for future actions.

In May 1943, the United States began an operation to recapture the island. The mission faced many mechanical and environmental challenges. Soldiers struggled with unsuitable landing craft and equipment that failed in harsh weather. Many troops suffered from frostbite because supplies could not be moved across the tundra. The combat was intense and occurred in difficult terrain.

The battle resulted in significant casualties for both sides. The U.S. recorded 3,929 casualties, including deaths from combat, disease, and cold injuries. The Japanese force suffered 2,035 deaths, with many lost during a large charge near Massacre Bay.

Following the war, the island served different strategic purposes. The United States government constructed a LORAN station at Theodore Point. LORAN is a system used to help ships and aircraft navigate. The station was operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and moved locations several times. It was located at Theodore Point, then Casco Cove, and finally at Massacre Bay. For a time, the island even had scheduled airline service from Anchorage using Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft. In 1984, Attu was also home to the last telephone exchange in the U.S. to be upgraded to dial service.

In 2010, the Coast Guard LORAN station permanently ceased operations. When the personnel left the island that year, Attu became the largest uninhabited island in the United States. Today, the island is a place of memory and historical study. The battlefield is a U.S. National Historic Landmark and part of the Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument. In 2007 and 2008, teams discovered the remains of Japanese soldiers on the island. These discoveries highlight the lasting physical impact of the conflict on the landscape.

Modern Attu is a quiet site dedicated to peace and reflection. A monument placed by the Japanese government stands on Engineer Hill. The inscription on the monument is written in both Japanese and English. It is dedicated to world peace and honors those who sacrificed their lives.

The island connects many different eras of history. It links the ancient Unangan culture, the era of Russian maritime trade, and the heavy legacy of global warfare. Even without a resident population, Attu remains a vital part of the American geographic and historical story.