Lost American Lands: Territories the U.S. Used to Own

15. The Aleutian Islands (Japanese Occupation)

In a lesser-known chapter of World War II, Japan occupied several of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, marking one of the few times foreign forces held U.S. soil in the 20th century. American forces eventually reclaimed the islands after intense fighting. This episode underscored the strategic vulnerabilities of American territory during wartime.