Module 8 - WWII 1939-45 A Turning Point for Alaska

Essential Question:

•    Describe the legacy of World War II for Alaska.  What happened in Alaska after the war that is largely attributable to WWII?  What are Alaskans living with today that is attributable to WWII?

Military/National Security:

Whittier Military Tower

After WWII, the military sites were being decommissioned and plans were made to reduce the presence of the military in Alaska. That is, until the start of the Cold War. Alaska was a very strategic place to have a military presence during the war because of it’s location. The Air Force took over several Army bases. Distant Early Warning (DEW) system of radar sites was established and linked to the White Alice. This added high-tech listening and viewing stations along the coastline.



The Alaska Territorial Guard, put into place in WWII, was incorporated into the Alaska National Guard. The ANG is common for both men and women from rural Native communities. ANG provides education and training opportunities. They have been called to assist during long periods of extreme cold and snow. They have also served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Infrastructure:

Alaska Highway

Construction projects that came about during the war continued after word. The Alaska Highway provided a way to get to Canada and the lower 48. It is still well traveled today. Other infrastructure projects included:
-    Dock facilities
-    Runways
-    Housing
-    Power stations
-    Military bases: Some military bases that are no longer in use by the government are used by civilians.

Quonset hut

The Quonset hut is a prefabricated building introduced during the War. They were used for housing, warehouses, rec and dining halls, and offices. After the war, they were converted into many different uses. They can still be seen today in certain parts of Alaska.







Political-economic:

Local economies where there were military bases did much better than those who did not have bases. After the war, Alaskans took civilian jobs on bases. The scope of operations is still significant in Alaska’s economy and population dynamics. Military men started to bring their families up to Alaska and this impacted schools, churches, and civic organizations. Others moved to Alaska because they were drawn to the adventure it has to offer, work and land under an Alaska homestead act.

Signing of the Alaska Statehood Act

There were many people who wanted to see what Alaska had to offer them. They were not prepared, however, for life in a territory. They were not represented in Congress and did not vote for governors. They did have a representative in Congress but he had no voting power. Veterans who served in Alaska became advocates of statehood. In 1959, Eisenhower signed the Alaska statehood bill. 







Socio-cultural:

Unalaskan Families

There were many socio-cultural happenings after the war. The survivors of Attu were relocated to Atka. There were many villages in the Aleutians that were never reestablished and some of them moved to Anchorage or Seattle. Those people who decided to move back to their villages found them pretty much destroyed. Native allotments in other parts of Alaska were taken over for military use and are still being fought for to this day.




The Native Civil Rights Movement started back in 1867. From that time up to WWII, Alaska Natives acted to assert their rights to traditional lands, access to resources, citizenship and voting rights. During WWII, the Natives served in the military, which they had hoped would demonstrate their loyalty to Alaska. Because of this action, they expected equal treatment and resolution to outstanding land issues.  In 1945, with the help of Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich, the Anti-Discrimination Act was introduced. This helped the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 to come about.

Environmental:

Former St. Lawrence Military Base

After WWII, as stated above, bases were closed down. However, there were equipment and supplies left behind at these bases that caused, and are still causing, harm to the environment. Equipment and supplies that contained hazardous chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), fuels, solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals were among the items left. Several of these sites are near Native communities and traditional fishing and hunting areas. Two of the most contaminated sites are in Northeast Cape and Gambell on the St. Lawrence Islands.


In the Norton Sound region, bases were mostly built for communication operations. PCBs were used in transformers and other electrical equipment. PCBs entered the marine and freshwater environment affecting the fish and marine mammals, most of which Natives used for subsistence. The military has spent millions of dollars to help clean up what was left behind but there is still a lot to be done.

Military Waste

Alaska has also been used as an experimental testing ground for the military’s nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare programs. Weapons testing ranges encompass an area approximately the size of the state of Kansas. Alaska is perceived as remote, with small populations of isolated communities that lack the political clout to resist the intrusions.

Eagle River Flats

One thing I found interesting was that the environmental effects also affected the Eagle River Flats. I live in Eagle River and was not aware of this. The Eagle River has been used by the Army for decades to test weapons and some of those weapons contained white phosphorus. It is one of the most polluted sites in the nation. It is now a part of the Fort Richardson National Priority List. Contamination and continued munitions testing threatens waterfowl, endangered beluga whales, and human health. This website gives information about what is being proposed by the army today and a timeline of what has happened  since 1994.




Examine Question:
Describe the major events in the Aleutian Campaign of World WarII.

Burning buildings at Ft. Mears
after first enemy attack on
Dutch Harbor, 3 June 1942

In 1942, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor to try to create a diversion from the Midway battle. While doing so, Japanese troops occupied Attu and Kiska in the Aleutians. The U.S. Army was unable to force the Japanese off the islands. The Japanese captured weather observers on Kiska and Attu Island villagers and took them to Japan. They stayed there until the war was over. Seventeen of them died while being held captive. The invasion also lead to the evacuation of the Aleuts by the Americans. They were evacuated to Southeast Alaska and given abandoned canneries, old mining camps, and other lactations to live in. Their homes were burned to the ground so they were unusable by the Japanese. Many of them were not able to return to their homes because of this.



This was the second time in U.S. history that American territory had been occupied by an invading army. Efforts to drive the Japanese out started immediately. Japanese reasoning for taking the islands was to have bases for long-range sea planes in order to detect American activity. They also believed that the islands would block any American attack on the Japanese islands. The U.S. believed that the Japanese took control in order to have a shorter distance to fly to bomb the aircraft plants and navy yards around Seattle.

Japanese officers at the Aleutian Islands, circa 1942-1943

The U.S. effort to take back the islands started with bombing raids on the islands carried out by navy flying boats, or large seaplanes, and army air force bombers. The Japanese suffered a great loss. American submarines were attacking Japanese ships that were carrying arms and supplies to Attu and Kiska. They were attacking from the air and water at the same time.

Massacre Bay, Attu, Aleutian Islands, 13 May 1943

The Battle of the Commander Islands happened in March 1943. The U.S. Navy intercepted Japanese ships attempting to take more troops to Kiska. The Japanese retreated. In March of 1943, military officials authorized the retaking of Attu. In April, the invasion force arrived in Alaska from the West Coast ports. These troops had been training to fight in Africa but orders had changed. They were not told where they were going but some believed they were going to Hawaii. They were dressed in summer uniforms and some not given anything extra for the cold weather because it was thought it would weigh the troops down. They attacked on May 11 and the battle lasted until the 29th. The Americans had taken back Attu with over 2,500 casualties and almost 1,200 wounded. Just under 2,000 soldiers died because of inadequate dress for the cold elements. Of the 2,400 Japanese, only 29 survived.

Ready to move against Kiska in 1943

 The recapture of Kiska was next. Runways were built on Attu and bombing raids intensified on Kiska. The Japanese made an escape off the island in July of 1943 and managed to get all of their troops off the island. The U.S. still invaded with the assumption that the Japanese had moved inland. They ended up killing 100 of their allied forces.








This site gives a very detailed account of what happened in the battle over the Aleutian Islands. The History Channel also has some really good videos to watch about the battle. I wasn't fully aware about this battle until I started researching it. It makes me proud as an American to see that we have always been a force to recon with. And to see the sacrifices made in order to keep this country free from invasion. It also saddens me to thing that the military would send in troops poorly equiped for the elements because they thought it would weigh them down. You would think they would have wanted them to be able to fully function during battle and not have to worry about how to keep warm.

Evaluation:
I liked reading all of this information and finding diferrent resources to help me answer the questions. It was interesting to learn how the actions of WWII affected life afterwords. I also learned a lot about the battle over the Aleutian Islands and how it came about and the impact it had on not only the military, but also the people of the islands and how their lives were changed.

Reviews:
I like reading Claire's blog. I had answered the same question but it is always nice to read what someone else has to say about the same issue. Nicely done Claire.

I like Lane's blog, there are very nice links and good pictures to aid in the answers.

I was very impressed with Heather's blog. It's very visually appealing and nicely arranged. She has a lot of resources and links and pictures. :)