Arrival Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi

japanese troops on attu

japanese forces had first occupied attu , kiska in aleutian islands on june 7, 1942 during battle of midway. abandoned attu in september 1942, decided reoccupy it. regiment of ija soldiers northern sea detachment (北海支隊, hokkai shitai), detachment of imperial japanese navy special naval landing force troops, , support personnel began arriving on attu in october 1942. total number of japanese on island between 2,500 , 2,900 men. tatsuguchi arrived on attu on march 10, 1943 on last full convoy reach island. while of north sea defense field hospital located on kiska, tatsuguchi part of 24-man team set small hospital on attu.

with american naval blockade in place, mail between attu , japan infrequent , unscheduled. tatsuguchi received several small packages taeko containing cookies , ointment skin, chafed attu s severe winter winds. 4 letters , several postcards tatsuguchi reached taeko. forbidden discussing unit s exact location or mission, tatsuguchi wrote weather, beauty of snowy , mountainous landscape around him, , success in catching fish. cheered news taeko second daughter, laura mutsuko, born in february. tatsuguchi reminded taeko in letters play classical music daughters.