Aleutian Campaign

In June of 1942, The Japanese bombed the Dutch Harbour in the Aleutian Island chain. Because of bad weather, few planes met their targets and little damage was done. This is where the Japanese decided to remain for defensive purposes, to prevent the American troops from entering Japan through the Aleutians. Much of the time operations were restricted because of the weather. Most of the struggle here would be against mother nature instead of the rival enemy forces.

The Americans did little damage against the Japanese, the Japanese did little damage against the Americans. At times the weather was said to be an unpredictable ally, and other times to be an uncertain foe. The weather actually claimed it's fair share or lives. Soldier shot their own side in the fog, mistaking them for an enemy. Ships sunk as they steered into jagged rocks. Planes flew into the sides of mountains in the overcast Sky , some went of course, never to be seen again.

I personally don't understand this campaign at all. Maybe I missed something in my research, but to me it just seems like a lot of people needlessly died. I'm sure that if one side (Either the Americans or the Japanese) had left, no one would have noticed because of the weather. The campaign went on for 6 months, and maybe I am wrong, but I think that is 6 months too long.