As troops and families gathered in California for departure to war, it was widely believed that the transport ship USS Rochambeau was destined to carry Henry, the 25th Evacuation Hospital personnel, thousands of soldiers and equipment to the Aleutian Islands of the Alaskan territory (there had been early active battle after these U.S. territory islands were taken over by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942).  The family quickly acquired woolen long underwear, socks and such for Henry before departure.   After a few days at sea, Henry told me the soldiers on board recognized that the ship shifted directions to the southwest and they actually ended up in the South Pacific! The clothing and heavy sleeping bag went along and remained in the war trunk for years in our Iowa City home.

QUESTION: WHY was the decoy destination leaked to imply that the site of travel was to the Aleutians Islands?    Answer: The Allutian Island chain was a site of battle between the U.S and Japan at that very time. As such, it was a believable destination (although false) for hiding the actual secret South Pacific destination of the ship. In this way the true path of travel was kept away from potential U.S. based spies.  There was a legitimate risk that land based spies could identify contents and destination of departing ships, and raise the risk of Japanese submarine attacks upon travel.   The well know phrase of the time “loose lips, sink ships” summarized this concern for U.S based Japanese spies. 

 

EARLY WW2 HISTORY of the ALEUTIAN ISLANDS 

The Aleutian Islands tail west off the coast of Alaska  (then a U.S. territory). The farthest west islands include Kiska and Attu.

Prior to Pearl Harbor of Dec1942, Japan had taken over South Pacific areas all the way from China, Korea, South Pacific Island expanses to the edge of Australia.  After Pearl Harbor the U.S., Australian, New Zealand and other allies for the first time stopped Japan advances at the Battle of Coral Sea, 4-8May1942 and then also at the Battle of Midway, 4-7June1942. 

At the same time, Japan attacked and occupied the 2 Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu (June 3-7, 1942) .  This was the first time that a foreign power occupied a U.S. territory in North America since the war of 1812. The attack was to draw the U.S. military efforts away from the South Pacific as well as establishing a new land base closer to the U.S. 

Active bombing and fighting to retake Attu followed, and continued at the same time as the departure of  the Rochambeau to the S Pacific with Henry aboard in late 1942.

Following:  (Attu was retaken by the U.S, 3 weeks in May 43, one of the deadliest battles, 1700 U.S. soldiers killed or wounded).

By Raymond M Hamilton Dec2025