World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseWesterners arrived in Alaska in the 17th and 18th Centuries in the form of Russian explorers. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska for US$7,200,000. Between 1867 and 1884, it was governed by the US Army under its Department of Alaska. In 1884, it came under civilian rule with the new name District of Alaska. On 24 Aug 1912, it was renamed to the Territory of Alaska after a small population boom due to the prospect of gold. During the war, Dutch Harbor, located on the islands of Unalaska and Amaknak in the Aleutian Islands, was a major military base servicing aircraft and naval vessels. In Mar 1942, the construction of the Alaska-Canadian Highway began, shortly after allowing military vehicles to travel from United States proper to Alaska; many portions of this highway was not open to the general public until after the war. In Jun 1942, Dutch Harbor was attacked by Japanese aircraft during the two-prong Aleutians-Midway offensive; simultaneously, Japanese troops landed and occupied the islands of Attu (and nearby Agattu) and Kiska. The US forces recaptured Attu in May 1943, and the Japanese evacuated Kiska by the end of Jul 1943. Given the territory's relative proximity to Russia, some of the US aircraft built for the Soviet Union under the terms of Lend-Lease were flown to Nome, Alaska, where Soviet pilots would make the final leg of the trip into eastern Russia. Several villages in the Aleutian Islands were forcibly relocated by both the US government and the Japanese occupation; some of those from Attu would die in Japanese imprisonment at Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. After the war, Alaska remained a territory for 14 more years before it was given statehood and was made the 49th full member of the United States.

Photographs

Maps

Alaska in World War II Interactive Map

Visitor Submitted Comments

Show older comments

2.  C. Peter Chen says:
17 Oct 2018 11:29:16 AM

Camme, I'm surprised to hear that. While Alaska was not foreign (although not a state, it was nevertheless American territory since 1867 and a Territory, with a capital "T", since 1912), those who served in Alaska during WW2 should have received the American Campaign Medal. According to the eligibility that the VFW publishes on its website, the American Campaign Medal would allow its recipient to join. Perhaps there are some complications to the story you are referring to?