BACKGROUND: Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands off Alaska. During WWII, the Japanese No. 3 landing party and five hundred marines went ashore at Kiska June 6, 1942 as a diversion for the Battle of Midway. All of the inhabitants were captured. On the following day, the island of Attu was also captured. The psychological impact on the Americans over the loss of U.S. territory was immense. In the winter of 1942-43, the Japanese fortified the islands to prevent a U.S. operation across the Kuril Islands. The U.S. Navy, in October 1942, began seven bombing missions over Kiska and that following winter Attu was liberated and Kiska was bombed for over two months. On August 17, 1943, an invasion force of 34,426 Allied troops, including 5,300 Canadians (6th & 7th Infantry), 95 ships and 168 aircraft landed on Kiska only to find it completely abandoned. The Japanese had removed their troops under the cover of severe fog on July 28, 1943.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A machine embroidered 65mm diameter patch with a black handled fighting knife to the center of a blue background. A white thread borders the patch.