[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 95 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 95

 Recognizing the 66th anniversary of the Battle of Attu and the end of 
  Imperial Japanese control of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska during 
   World War II and urging the Secretary of the Interior to work to 
protect the historic sites associated with the battle and the Aleutian 
      World War II National Historic Area, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2006

 Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following joint resolution; which 
               was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 66th anniversary of the Battle of Attu and the end of 
  Imperial Japanese control of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska during 
   World War II and urging the Secretary of the Interior to work to 
protect the historic sites associated with the battle and the Aleutian 
      World War II National Historic Area, and for other purposes.

Whereas on December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan bombed the United States Navy fleet 
        at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Army Air Corps installations elsewhere on 
        the island of Oahu, resulting in the United States entrance into World 
        War II;
Whereas on June 3, 1942, almost six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 
        Japanese aircraft attacked United States Army and Navy installations at 
        Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Island Chain of Alaska;
Whereas two days of aerial bombardment left over 100 members of the Armed Forces 
        and civilians dead or wounded and destroyed barracks, fuel tanks, and 
        other structures;
Whereas Japanese forces subsequently occupied the Aleutian islands of Kiska and 
        Attu, and, while the Japanese forces entrenched on Attu, the remaining 
        Aleut population on the island was transported to Japan for internment;
Whereas on May 11, 1943, two landing forces consisting of units of the United 
        States Army, numbering approximately 12,500 men in total, landed on the 
        north and south ends of Attu Island to begin a pincer movement towards 
        the Japanese strongholds at Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor;
Whereas, after eight days of heavy fighting, the South Landing Force finally 
        climbed its way out of its landing site in Massacre Bay;
Whereas the North Landing Force, amongst their numbers the Alaska Scouts, forced 
        the Japanese from Holtz Bay, then continued towards Jarmin Pass;
Whereas the Japanese troops that remained on the island had retreated to the 
        wild heights of Fish Hook Ridge above Chichagof Valley, where they hoped 
        to be reinforced;
Whereas on May 23, 1943, sixteen Japanese Betty bombers were met by United 
        States P-38 Lightnings over Attu and five of the Japanese bombers were 
        shot down;
Whereas air strikes and United States ground force assaults up the precipitous 
        Fish Hook Ridge further diminished Japanese forces;
Whereas on May 29, 1943, approximately 750 Imperial Japanese troops broke 
        through American lines in a desperate attempt to reach Massacre Bay and 
        needed stockpiles of United States supplies;
Whereas the Imperial Japanese forces were finally halted at Engineer Hill, as a 
        hastily organized United States defense repelled wave after wave of 
        infantry attacks;
Whereas, of the approximately 2,300 Japanese troops who had occupied the island, 
        fewer than thirty soldiers of the garrison survived;
Whereas 549 United States servicemen lost their lives in the battle;
Whereas section 513 of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 
        (Public Law 104-333; 16 U.S.C. 461 note) designated the Aleutian World 
        War II National Historic Area to interpret, educate, and inspire present 
        and future generations about ``the history of the Aleut people, and the 
        role of the Aleut people and the Aleutian Islands in the defense of the 
        United States in World War II'';
Whereas 2006 is the 10th anniversary of the designation of the Aleutian World 
        War II National Historic Area;
Whereas designation as a national historic area attests not only to the 
        historical significance of the site, but also to the integrity of the 
        site;
Whereas the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area contains considerable 
        physical evidence of the over 100,000 Canadian and American troops who 
        served in the Aleutian Islands in World War II;
Whereas the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area follows the historic 
        footprint of the United States Army Fort Schwatka located at Ulakta Head 
        on Mount Ballyhoo;
Whereas the fort is one of four coastal defense posts built in 1942 and 1943 to 
        protect the Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base;
Whereas, although many of the bunkers and wooden structures of Fort Schwatka 
        have collapsed, the gun mounts and lookouts at the fort are among the 
        most intact in the country;
Whereas the park and its facilities on Amaknak Island in Unalaska, Alaska, are 
        owned and managed by the Ounalashka Corporation, the village corporation 
        for Unalaska; and
Whereas thanks to the sacrifices of members of the United States Armed Forces 
        who participated in the battles of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska is a 
        free and democratic State of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,  That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the bravery and courage of the members of 
        the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Battle 
        of Attu and of all veterans who fought in the Pacific Theater 
        during World War II; and
            (2) urges the Secretary of the Interior--
                    (A) to recognize the 66th anniversary of the Battle 
                of Attu and the end of Imperial Japanese control of the 
                Alaskan Aleutian islands during World War II;
                    (B) to work to protect the historic sites 
                associated with the battle and the Aleutian World War 
                II National Historic Area; and
                    (C) to establish commemorative programs honoring 
                the Americans who fought or served at these historic 
                sites.
                                 <all>