War Reading

I've been reading a lot of WWII, WWI, and Civil War. I find that descriptions and photos of unspeakable carnage help to make Los Angeles tolerable by comparison.
The US was occupied for a short period during WWII. In an episode not largely appreciated, the Japanese took over two small Islands at the tip of the Aleutian chain, Attu and Kiska. This was done as a diversion at the time of the pivotal Battle of Midway.
Shortly before the US invaded Kiska in August of 1942, the Japanese secretly evacuated 5000 men in less than an hour. The first radio message of the operation advised that the invading troops found only "a few dogs and some hot coffee". When the Chief of Naval Operations and the Navy Secretary received this information the following exchage between the men (Knox and King) took place:
"What does this mean?"
"It means that the Japanese are very clever. Their dogs can brew coffee."
Source: LIFE: WWII History's Greatest Conflict In Pictures
Article: A Deadly Game of Leapfrog by Ronald H. Spector