Members of the 134th Infantry,
Nebraska National Guard in Alaska.
Not all of the original Nebraska National Guard served with the 134th in Europe. Companies E, F, G, and H were transferred to the 197th Infantry and served in the Aleutian Islands.
Few Nebraskans realized that an American possession and future state was invaded by Japan during World War II. Fewer still realized that a former Nebraska National Guard battalion was deployed to help stop Japanese expansion the area.
In 1942 the 134th Infantry Regiment's Second Battalion was selected for a top-secret mission in the Aleutian Islands. During its mission the battalion was absorbed into another unit, redesignated in 1943 as Second Battalion, 197th Infantry. Their objective was to secure control of Adak Island which would be used as a basis for later attacks on the islands of Attu and Kiska which were occupied by the Japanese. The Second Battalion occupied Adak without opposition. They hoped to take part in the invasion of Attu and Kiska, but the Japanese decided to abandon the islands and evacuated all of its forces by August of 1943.
The Second Battalion eventually returned to the U.S. mainland in 1944. The 197th was then dissolved, and its soldiers used as replacements for existing units.
When it became evident that the Second Battalion would not rejoin the 134th Infantry regiment, the regiment organized a new second battalion to replace what has become known as the 134th's "lost battalion."
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Nebraskans on the Front Lines
