243 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca direct hit in the bombing, with four damaged subs inside. There was also a fully equipped underground hospital. The equipment left behind that was not already destroyed by bombing had been destroyed by their own troops before evacuation. There were tunnels and caves packed with food and clothing that they recovered, and which was sent to Prisoners of War held by the Allies. They came across a crashed American plane which had flown into cables strung across a deep and narrow ravine, the ravine the American fliers used in order to avoid anti-aircraft fire. They had buried the pilot on the spot, and erected a cross and sign which read: “Sleeping here a brave hero who lost youth and happiness for his Motherland. July 25, Nippon Army”. The Canadian Air Force had two squadrons operating in the Aleutians during the war. They lost seven men who are also buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. It is worth mentioning here that Janie “Pat” O’buck, a Canadian Veteran, (CWAC) who was a Legion member and lived in Anchorage, learned that Canadians were buried in Alaska. She called the Director of the National Cemetery and requested and received permission to place Canadian flags on the graves on Memorial Day. The American Legion places American flags on all graves on Memorial Day. She contacted Dominion Command, Canadian Legion and was told the flags would be sent to her. They did not arrive. In the meantime, a friend of hers inWashington, D.C. found a source for the flags and sent them to her. It pleased her that she was be able to place the flags on the Canadian graves. We should all be grateful to her for this kind act. When all the supplies had been unloaded on Kiska, the American engineers went to work constructing piers in the harbor, building roads and power lines, and rebuilding the airfield. They did this in record time. Tents and quonsets went up and they were eating fresh rations in mess halls, instead of K rations. They could now send and receive mail, but all out-going mail was censored. They could purchase all sorts of goods in the American P.X. and there was entertainment in the recreation centre. Their regiment now settled down to garrison duty, digging in our guns on Mercy Hill overlooking the harbor. There were a few alerts when enemy planes were reported nearby, but they did not come under attack. After six months duty, their regiment was the last of the Canadians to leave Kiska, but not before they were honoured by a march past in review by American top brass and an unveiling of a memorial stone monument with the lettering “24th Field Regiment” in empty shell cases inscribed on it. This was in appreciation of their involvement in the Aleutian campaign and helping to put an end to enemy occupation of U.S. territory. On returning to Canada, and after a two-month leave, they went to Prince George, BC and began training for Polar Bear exercises. This was to test British and American equipment under cold and damp conditions. During the winter months they moved through the northern interior of BC, then through the Chilcotin mountain range to Bella Coola on the coast. They started out with wheeled vehicles, then changed to tracked vehicles when the snow got too deep, completing the last 200 miles or so on snowshoes and pack horses, through the mountain passes. British and American observers accompanied them throughout the trip. These exercises were conducted in preparation for the invasion of mainland Japan. However, the war was over in Europe and soon afterwards the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which ended the war with Japan. Demobilization started in Canada and Bert was discharged in January 1946. VANDERSTEEN, Bert (continued)
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