Castner’s Cutthroats, a platoon of unique soldiers commanded by Colonel Lawrence V. Castner, launched into subarctic history shortly after the Japanese occupied Kiska and Attu in June 1942.
Relentless cold, impenetrable fog and endless hurricane force winds called “williwaws” threatened the Japanese survival on their two captured islands far more than the Americans. The Americans, too, would have to fight the elements. But they had to take the islands back, and Castner’s cutthroats would deal with the weather.
Link to another story “Marauding Japanese Forces”
Colonel Castner handpicked 66 tough men–trappers, hunters, fishermen, dogsledders, miners—men who knew all about Aleutians weather and terrain. Major William J. Verbeck taught them to fight. And Castner’s cutthroats sallied forth.
In August 1942 a team of Cutthroats paddled rubber boats through the frigid surf from a submarine onto Adak. Another did the same onto Amchitka. On both islands they scouted airstrips the air force used to bomb Kiska and Attu.
And when the Army sent the 7th Infantry Division north from Fort Ord to invade Attu, Castner’s Cutthroats led them ashore.
On May 11, 1943 Cutthroats in a plastic whaleboat rowed through thick fog to recon Beach Red on Attu, then, as the soldiers of the 7th struggled ashore, the Cutthroats climbed the steep, rocky ridge, ahead of them, looking for the enemy.
The scouts spent a bitter night high on the mountainside, and in the morning, they discovered that the Japanese had climbed the other side of the ridge to the top.
This is so interesting
Thank you.
My Grandfather, Alfred Brattain ( aka Bad Whiskey Red ) survived WW2. In fact he lived a long life afterwards to the ripe old age of 93. He was a great man! A man’s man! He had many memories and stories of that time in his life.
Bad Wisky Red was my father, Alfred A Brattain. He was not shot through the heart or I would not be here. Nor would my two sisters. Bruce Brattain
Actually, on the article this links to, it says that “Bad Whiskey Red” was Corporal Willis Cruden, not “Alfred A Brattain”. I don’t know what you thought you read, but you spelled his nickname incorrectly (it isn’t “Wisky”, it’s “Whiskey”). What a disgrace to the human population.