Hurriedly, the U.S. mobilized its own forces in the Pacific. They landed on the Island of Adak, just two hours flight from the Japanese-occupied Kiska. After ten days and eleven nights of work, Adak's air base had been constructed, and was made operable. The new air base sported a different sort of runway. Because of the Aleutian's freezing temperatures, pavement would not have been a conducive material - it would likely crack under the pressure of freezing water. Instead, Adak's runway was made up of steel. Each slab of steel was laid down in sections and contained cut-out circles that would allow for water to pass through. Unfortunately the base was constructed over what had once been a lagoon, and water often covered the runway despite the holes in the steel, however, planes continued to take off and land despite the drawback (Report from the Aleutians).

By March of 1943 the U.S. forces in the Aleutians had managed to re-take Kiska, however, their fight was not over. The U.S. began to use the Aleutians as a base from which to attack the Japanese-owned Kurile Islands. Many lives were lost, many families ripped apart, and still the truth remained hidden. Families recieved letters with gaping holes, the offending text mentioning something so platonic as scenery or location, cut out by censors. At home obituaries could be read with the word "Pacific" blanked out. It truly was the "forgotten war," but it was made that way.