RARE WW2 KISKA TASK FORCE SLEEVE PATCH - MADE SHIPBOARD - UNCUT

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2.75" DIAM., SHIPBOARD MADE PATCH IS PRINTED ON FINE WOVEN LINEN MATERIAL AND HAS NEVER BEEN COMPLETELY TRIMMED OUT. SHOWS SOME AGE FROM YEARS INT HE SCRAP BOOK BUT 100% ORIGINAL! The Japanese No. 3 Special Landing Party and 500 marines went ashore at Kiska on June 6, 1942 as a separate campaign concurrent with the Japanese plan for the Battle of Midway . The Japanese captured the sole inhabitants of the island: a small U.S. Navy Weather Detachment consisting of ten men, including a lieutenant, along with their dog. (One member of the detachment escaped for 50 days. Starving, thin, and extremely cold, he eventually surrendered to the Japanese.) The next day the Japanese captured Attu Island . The military importance of this frozen, difficult-to-supply island was questionable, but the psychological impact upon the Americans of losing U.S. territory was tangible. During the winter of 1942–43, the Japanese reinforced and fortified the islands—not necessarily to prepare for an island-hopping operation across the Aleutians, but to prevent a U.S. operation across the Kuril Islands . The U.S. Navy began operations to deny Kiska supply which would lead to the Battle of the Komandorski Islands . During October 1942, American forces undertook seven bombing missions over Kiska, though two were aborted due to inclement weather. Following the winter, Attu was liberated and Kiska was bombed once more for over two months, before a larger American force was allocated to defeat the expected Japanese garrison of 5,200 men. On August 15, 1943, an invasion force consisting of 34,426 Allied troops, including elements of the 7th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Regiment, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 5,300 Canadians (the 6th and 7th Infantry Divisions ), 95 ships (including three battleships and a heavy cruiser), and 168 aircraft landed on Kiska, only to find the island completely abandoned. The Japanese, aware of the loss of Attu and the impending arrival of the larger Allied force, had successfully removed their troops on July 28 under the cover of severe fog, without the Allies noticing. Allied casualties during this invasion nevertheless numbered close to 200, all either from friendly fire , booby traps set out by the Japanese to inflict damage on the invading allied forces, or weather-related disease. There were seventeen Americans and four Canadians killed from either friendly fire or booby traps, fifty more were wounded as a result of friendly fire or booby traps, and an additional 130 men came down with trench foot . The destroyer USS Abner Read hit a mine, resulting in 87 casualties. That night, however, the Imperial Japanese Navy warships, thinking they were engaged by Americans, shelled and attempted to torpedo the island of Little Kiska and the Japanese soldiers waiting to embark. [4] Admiral Ernest King reported to the secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox , that the only things that remained on the island were dogs and fresh brewed coffee . Knox asked for an explanation and King responded, "The Japanese are very clever. Their dogs can brew coffee. HAPPY CUSTOMERS ARE MY #1 PRIORITY ! PLEASE CHECK MY FEEDBACK! I ALWAYS LEAVE GOOD FEEDBACK FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTIONS! I DON’T WAIT FOR BUYER TO DO IT FIRST! YOUR QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME! I'M HAPPY TO COMBINE ITEMS AND USUALLY SHIP FOR THE COST OF ONE ITEM IN THE CASE OF MULTIPLE INSIGNIA OR SIMILAR, SMALL ARTICLES. I USUALLY SHIP MID-WEEK. A PAYMENT RECEIVED ON SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING FACILITATES THE QUICKEST HANDLING. EVERYTHING IS CAREFULLY PACKED AND SHIPPED WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND MINE. THIS METHOD REQUIRES A PADDED ENVELOPE OR CARTON BUT SAVES BUYER THE UNNECESSARY & COSTLY EXPENSE OF PRIORITY MAIL!!!! IF YOU PREFER A CERTAIN METHOD OF SHIPPING I'LL DO MY BEST TO WORK WITH YOU BUT I CAN NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOST ITEMS THAT I SHIP, AT YOUR REQUEST, WITHOUT INSURANCE OR CONFIRMATION. I'M NOT YELLING AT YOU - ALL CAPS IS JUST EASIER ... read more

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