1942.06.05 “Sticking His Neck Out”
by Burris A. Jenkins, Jr. (1897-1966)
11.67 x 16 in., ink, crayon on board
Coppola Collection
Burris Jenkins Jr. was the son of a prominent Kansas City minister, war correspondent and newspaper editor. Jenkins Jr. was a popular sports cartoonist, whose work appeared in the New York Journal-American from 1931. His humorous published verses were also popular. Although best known for his sports themes, Jenkins was also a skilled courtroom illustrator and editorial cartoonist.
The Japanese Navy and Army invaded and occupied two of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska: Kiska and Attu. The Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor and the subsequent invasions of Kiska and Attu occurred between June 3-6, 1942. The Japanese objectives were to disrupt supply lines between the US and Russia, as well as to potentially use the Aleutian Islands as a base for further attacks on the US mainland.
Japanese forces launched an attack on Dutch Harbor on June 3, 1942, targeting the U.S. Naval Air Station and Fort Myers. Three days later, Japanese forces landed on Kiska and Attu islands. On Kiska, the Japanese established a naval base and fortified the island heavily. Attu was also occupied by Japanese forces.
American forces retaliated with air and naval attacks, eventually recapturing both islands, but not without heavy casualties on both sides and significant damage to US installations.
