239 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca In all, 549 Americans were killed and more than 3,200 wounded. Of the approximately 2,600 Japanese troops, only 28 were taken prisoner. All the rest committed hara-kiri. The following month, things began to happen at their camp in Nanaimo. They started intensive mountain training and were issued U.S. 75 millimeter artillery guns to replace their traditional British 25 pounders. These 75 mill guns were much lighter, could be towed by hand, and be broken down and backpacked if necessary. They knew something big was in the works but were not told what their mission was. However, they made an educated guess and were proved right later on, when they were told it would be Kiska. All leaves were cancelled, and they were confined to barracks. They were issued U.S. gear and winter clothing, which meant a long campaign. However, they kept their Canadian battledress and black berets, and were given blue shoulder patches with a dagger as a logo. They would be paid in American money which paid 10% premium on exchange. Soon three big supply ships docked in the harbor at Nanaimo and began taking on supplies and ammunition. It was now midsummer in 1943. Three days later the 24th Field Regiment RCA and the 13th Infantry Brigade, consisting of battalions of Winnipeg Grenadiers, Rocky Mountain Rangers, and Le Régiment de Hull commanded by Major General G.R. Pearkes of Pacific Command, went on board. (After the war, G.R. Pearkes went into politics, was elected Progressive Conservative M.P. in the Diefenbaker government, and later became Lieutenant Governor of BC.) Other units were 46th light Anti Aircraft battery RCA the 24th Field Company RCE A company of The Saint John Fusiliers and the 25th field Ambulance RCAMC. These units sailed in a fourth transport from Chemainus, a Vancouver Island Port in British Columbia. At dusk, the convoy slipped quietly out of the harbor. Two warships joined the convoy at this point; the smaller corvette in the lead and the larger destroyer bringing up the rear. It was smooth sailing for awhile until they got out of the channel past the Queen Charlotte Islands, when the full force of the Pacific hit them; the water was very rough. Things were uneventful until they got into the danger zone of the North Pacific. With days on end in heavy fog, the convoy slowed to a stop, visibility zero. They were motionless for several days and nights, running no lights. Finally, when the fog cleared, the convoy was minus one ship and the destroyer. They feared they might have been torpedoed, but to their relief the next morning they were back in formation with the convoy. At one point the destroyer took off to the right at top speed, as if detecting something. It turned out to be only whales. They encountered no enemy subs throughout our trip. Finally, one evening, they sailed into the beautiful harbor of Adak. It was good to see land again. Adak was the staging area for the upcoming invasion of Kiska. There were a great number of ships at anchor, including many warships. There was also an airfield where heavy bombers could take off and land; this was the largest base in the western Aleutians. It had taken only one year to construct and was only 275 miles east of Kiska. They disembarked the following day and began training in amphibious landings for the invasion, which was scheduled for August 15, 1943. After two weeks training, they went back on ship and sailed to Amchitka for a dress rehearsal of the invasion itself. It was very windy and the water rough. The troops were wet and seasick on the barges before hitting the beaches. Some small boats were smashed by the surf on the rocky shore. Other than that, it went quite well. They were now only 60 miles from Kiska and could see the peak of its only live volcano in the distance. (continued) VANDERSTEEN, Bert (continued)
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