This book attempts to put the reader on the battlefield with the ground soldier. Men who fought on Attu, officers and enlisted men, told their stories to Lieutenant Robert J. Mitchell of the 32nd Infantry, one of the regiments engaged. Lieutenant Mitchell was wounded during the latter stage of the battle and while convalescing wrote the accounts which are now published as part two of the book. These stories tell of the discomforts and perils, the failures and successes, the fear and courage, the many fights between small groups the occasional humor, of which battle consists. In preparing these accounts for publication, every effort has been made to keep them as nearly as possible in the exact form in which they were written down by Lieutenant Mitchell; consequently, a minimum of editorial changes has been made. Part one, written by Sewell T. Tyng, is an introduction in the form of a connected narrative of events leading up to the invasion of the Aleutian island of Attu and a detailed account of the battle which resulted in the capture of Attu by American forces. This narrative is based on official sources and on material collected by Captain Nelson L. Drummond, Jr., Field Artillery, formerly of the Alaska Defense Command. The volume has been prepared in the war department under the supervision of the Military Intelligence Division. Aerial photographs are by the 11th Air Force ; battle photographs are by the US Signal Corps; and terrain feature photographs are by Captain Drummond, assisted by Private First Class A.E. Johnson, 50th Engineer Regiment. The panoramic sketch is based on an original by the 50th Engineer Regiment. The publication of the volume in its present form has been made possible by the coöperation of Colonel Joseph I. Greene, editor of the Infantry Journal, and his staff. -- From the Preface.

"First edition, October 1944."

Part 1. Battle of Attu: Island of Attu -- Japanese take Attu -- Preliminary operations against Attu -- American preparations for invasion -- Advance on Attu -- Massacre Bay -- Stalemate in Massacre Valley -- Opening of Clevesy Pass -- Landing at Red Beach -- Provisional battalion -- Capture of the Japanese base -- Battle for Chichagof -- Aid from Japan -- Taking of the Fish Hook -- Yamasaki's decision -- Conclusion -- Part 2. Personal narratives of Attu: Massacre Valley -- Holtz Bay -- The Battle for Chichagof -- Counterattack and cleanup.