The Aleutians were the only North American territory to be invaded and occupied during the war. The fighting for these remote islands off the Alaskan mainland lasted for more than a year and claimed more than 3,800 Japanese and American lives. Combining descriptions of intense combat and danger with the daily lives of GIs in non-combat areas, this book recreates the life and times of army and navy men in an isolated area. The book skillfully pulls together quotes from over 200 officers and enlisted men to weave an interesting and realistic tapestry of military life under difficult conditions. The in-theater experiences of noted writer Dashiell Hammett, as well as musicians Yehudi Menuhin and Bud Freeman, appear in the narrative. Chapters detail men’s reactions to dismal weather, often-poor food and housing, and the lack of women. Over 50 official and personal photographs complement the narrative.