No matter where you are, we're glad you're here!
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| Alaska Highway Near Tok, AK www.explorealaska.com |
Essential Questions
- Explain how Alaska's location was considered "strategic" during World War II. What were the war activities/events that supported the perspective of "strategic" Alaska?
- The conduct of war presents incredible challenges as well as opportunities. These impact the economy of the country as well a the daily lives of all participants. Describe the challenges and opportunities unique to Alaska during World War II.
- Describe the legacy of World War II for Alaska. What happened in Alaska after the war that is largely attributable to WW II? What are Alaskans living with today that is attributable to WW II?
ENGAGE
Everything that has been covered so far in Module VIII leads to the question - What is the impact and the legacy of World War II on Alaska? The answer is not insignificant; it is a definite need to know.
So much of Alaska today has roots embedded within the wartime military and civilian experience. The World War II impact and legacy can be categorized into roughly five intersecting categories. These are:
As World War II concluded the U.S. government identified many military sites for decommissioning, and made plans to reduce its presence in Alaska. Due in part to the high cost of moving all the war materials brought in during the war, tons of equipment was left behind.
Some materials were purchased by locals for other uses and some were simply abandoned on site. However, by the late 1940's, the Cold War had started and the post-war plan of reducing the scale of the military in Alaska took a dramatic turn.
Once again, Alaska's strategic location (including its proximity to the U.S.S.R.) put it on the front lines. There was a reorientation from defending Alaska from a Japanese invasion to defending it, and the rest of the U.S., from the threat posed by Soviet bombs and submarines.
This resulted in a considerable re-shifting of personnel and materials on the Alaska bases. The new Air Force took over some Army bases, and all eyes, and planes, were pointed westward.
The Distant Early Warning system (DEW Line) of radar sites was established across arctic Alaska and Canada. It was linked to the White Alice long-line communications system. These installations added high - tech ears and eyes along the Alaska coast line.
Kaktovik, on Barter Island, is but one example of a Native community profoundly impacted by this military activity. The impact and legacy are still being felt today; Kaktovik's history with the military has influenced its identity.
The build up of the military in Alaska occurred primarily in the 1950's and declined somewhat in the mid-1960's-early 1980's as the U.S. was caught up in the SE Asia conflict. At the conclusion of the Viet Nam War, Cold War military projects once again brought money and personnel to Alaska. Joint training operations with U.S. allies resumed and Arctic war games became standard practice.
What about the Alaska Territorial Guard? With statehood these units were incorporated into the Alaska National Guard. Alaska has both Air and Army National Guard units. Enlistment in the National Guard, as part of a tradition of military service that started with the ATG during World War II, continues to be common for both men and women from rural Native communities.
National Guard service provides education and training opportunities, and serves to provide a cash income which supplements a subsistence lifestyle.
Within Alaska the National Guard have been called to assist during long periods of extreme cold and, most recently, to help move snow in Cordova and Valdez during a winter of record snowfall. Alaska National Army and Air Guard units have served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
Now that the Cold War is over, the U.S. government again has re-calibrated the role of the military in Alaska. Bases have closed or been combined. Units have been reassigned to bases in the lower 48. However, the scope of the operations, while smaller than during the Cold War, continue to be a significant component of Alaska's economy and population dynamics.
As Alaskans have grown used to the strong military presence in the state they have generally remained supportive, and resist federal government efforts to further reduce the number of bases and personnel.
Alaskan support for the military isn't just about national security. There are political and economic dimensions to this support. Immediately after the war, there was a slump in war related construction jobs. Many of the gold mines closed during the war did not reopen.
The war had created economic opportunities for some, and hindered others. Local economies in areas where there were military bases had benefited, and post-war Alaskans quickly took civilian jobs on the bases that remained open.
The post-war era saw a further incorporation into the local economy of the federal dollars spent on the military in Alaska. As service personnel brought their families to live on the bases, the impact was felt throughout the communities - from schools, churches, civic organizations, social clubs.
Many veterans of Alaska military and civilian construction service returned to Alaska after the war. They were attracted by the landscape, the lifestyle, and the opportunities offered by Alaska for work and for land under an Alaska homestead act.
Joe Redington Sr. is but one example of a WW II veteran who moved his family to Alaska in the late 1940's and established a homestead; in the 1970's he became known as the Father of the Iditarod.
Media attention, started during the war, continued to spread the word of adventure and opportunity in Alaska. Americans were drawn to the challenge of driving to Alaska via the Alaska Highway. The population of Alaska nearly doubled from 1950-1960.
However, what these new residents weren't prepared for was their change in status as a resident of a territory. They had come from states and were used to representation in Congress and voting for their governors. Yet, in Alaska the territorial governor was a presidential appointee, and the one delegate to Congress was a representative with no voting power.
Many of the veterans who served in Alaska became strong advocates of statehood, and helped to propel the statehood movement to eventual success in 1959 when President Eisenhower signed the Alaska statehood bill.
The massive construction projects which had taken place in Alaska during World War II remained. The physical changes which had occurred impacted all aspects of life in Alaska.
The Alaska Highway provided a road connection to Canada and the rest of the U.S. It remains a vital link today. Other infrastructure projects which carried Alaska into the modern era included dock facilities, runways, housing, power stations, the military bases, and improved telephone communication.
From World War II to the present, there have been over 700 military sites in Alaska. All represent an infusion of materials, money, and labor. Those still in use continue to bring in federal dollars and a diversity of personnel who contribute to Alaska's communities. Many of those no longer in military use now have a civilian use, for example the large runways in rural communities such as Yakutat, Gustavus, Cold Bay, and McGrath.
Another iconic example of a World War II legacy is the quonset hut - a prefabricated building brought in by the thousands during the war for housing, warehouses, rec/dining halls, offices. These became war surplus, and creative Alaskans converted them to a multitude of uses in both urban and rural areas. They may still be seen around the state today if one knows how to identify them.
So much of Alaska today has roots embedded within the wartime military and civilian experience. The World War II impact and legacy can be categorized into roughly five intersecting categories. These are:
- Military/National security,
- Infrastructure,
- Political-economic,
- Socio-cultural,
- Environmental.
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| Base End Station, Ataku Isl., ca. 1996 - Jonas Parker mchunter1.tripod.com |
Some materials were purchased by locals for other uses and some were simply abandoned on site. However, by the late 1940's, the Cold War had started and the post-war plan of reducing the scale of the military in Alaska took a dramatic turn.
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| F-22 Raptor Intercepts and Escorts Russian Tu-95 Bear Bomber Near Nunivak 2007 www.jber.ak.mil |
This resulted in a considerable re-shifting of personnel and materials on the Alaska bases. The new Air Force took over some Army bases, and all eyes, and planes, were pointed westward.
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| F-15 Eagle Departs Elemendorf AFB May 2010 www.jber.ak.ml |
Kaktovik, on Barter Island, is but one example of a Native community profoundly impacted by this military activity. The impact and legacy are still being felt today; Kaktovik's history with the military has influenced its identity.
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| Barter Island Tropospheric Antennae White Alice www.dewlinehistory.com |
What about the Alaska Territorial Guard? With statehood these units were incorporated into the Alaska National Guard. Alaska has both Air and Army National Guard units. Enlistment in the National Guard, as part of a tradition of military service that started with the ATG during World War II, continues to be common for both men and women from rural Native communities.
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www.akguard.com |
Within Alaska the National Guard have been called to assist during long periods of extreme cold and, most recently, to help move snow in Cordova and Valdez during a winter of record snowfall. Alaska National Army and Air Guard units have served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
Now that the Cold War is over, the U.S. government again has re-calibrated the role of the military in Alaska. Bases have closed or been combined. Units have been reassigned to bases in the lower 48. However, the scope of the operations, while smaller than during the Cold War, continue to be a significant component of Alaska's economy and population dynamics.
As Alaskans have grown used to the strong military presence in the state they have generally remained supportive, and resist federal government efforts to further reduce the number of bases and personnel.
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| AK Senator Murkowski and AK Army National Guard - Bravo Company- www.adn.com |
The war had created economic opportunities for some, and hindered others. Local economies in areas where there were military bases had benefited, and post-war Alaskans quickly took civilian jobs on the bases that remained open.
The post-war era saw a further incorporation into the local economy of the federal dollars spent on the military in Alaska. As service personnel brought their families to live on the bases, the impact was felt throughout the communities - from schools, churches, civic organizations, social clubs.
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Joe Redington Sr. Flathorn Homestead, Knik, AK mid-1950's VILDA amrc-b2006-023-0203 |
Joe Redington Sr. is but one example of a WW II veteran who moved his family to Alaska in the late 1940's and established a homestead; in the 1970's he became known as the Father of the Iditarod.
Media attention, started during the war, continued to spread the word of adventure and opportunity in Alaska. Americans were drawn to the challenge of driving to Alaska via the Alaska Highway. The population of Alaska nearly doubled from 1950-1960.
However, what these new residents weren't prepared for was their change in status as a resident of a territory. They had come from states and were used to representation in Congress and voting for their governors. Yet, in Alaska the territorial governor was a presidential appointee, and the one delegate to Congress was a representative with no voting power.
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Anchorage Daily Times Headline 7/1/58 After Congress Passed Statehood Act VILDA UAF-2006-154-8 |
The massive construction projects which had taken place in Alaska during World War II remained. The physical changes which had occurred impacted all aspects of life in Alaska.
The Alaska Highway provided a road connection to Canada and the rest of the U.S. It remains a vital link today. Other infrastructure projects which carried Alaska into the modern era included dock facilities, runways, housing, power stations, the military bases, and improved telephone communication.
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| Gustavus Airfield 2003, 6700 ft., WW II Construction, Gus. pop. 450 (2011) www.airfieldsdatabase/com and www.commerce.state.ak.us |
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| Spenard Post Office (old quonset hut) ASL-P01-4445 |
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| Galena School Class 1948-49 AK Territorial Dept. of Edu. VILDA ASL-MS146-03-16A |
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| Reeve Aleutian Airways Route Map/Logo www.wisconsinaviationhalloffame.org |
For example, experienced Alaskan aviator Bob Reeve secured Civil Aeronautics Administration certification to fly a commercial route to Aleutian communities; this area had never had civilian air service. He had flown these routes during the war as a civilian contractor to haul supplies; his first planes after WW II were surplus military planes. His company became the well-known and well-loved Reeve Aleutian Airways .
Other Alaskans weren't so lucky. The survivors of Attu were relocated to the village of Atka. Several villages in the Aleutians were never reestablished and some Aleuts chose to resettle in Anchorage or Seattle. Those who did return to their villages found homes, community buildings, and churches damaged or destroyed. In other areas of Alaska, lands that were Native allotments were taken over for military use. Legal struggles to regain these lands continue to this day. These experiences have become part of the story of the people, and are important aspects of their socio-cultural collective memory.
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| Eskimo Native Dances at the 'native USO' in Fairbanks Feb. 1944 VILDA ASL-P343-633 |
The founding of the Alaska Native Brotherhood in 1912 and its 1929 resolution which resulted in the famous Tlingit/Haida case are examples of this movement. World War II military service by Alaska Natives demonstrated their loyalty to Alaska and the United States; in return they expected equal treatment and a resolution to outstanding land issues.
In 1945, with the advocacy of Native leaders Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich, the territorial legislature passed the Anti-Discrimination Act, preceding national equal rights legislation by nine years (1954 Brown vs. Board of Education-Topeka). The Alaska legislation became part of the larger national civil rights movement and helped to propel the AK Native land claims movement which resulted in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.
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| Military and Other Federal Toxic Waste Sites 1998 - www.akaction.org |
Of the 700 formerly and currently used military sites in Alaska, there are several now classified as superfund sites by the Environmental Protection Agency (which did not even exist at the time of WW II). These include parts of Fort Richardson in Anchorage, and parts of Fort Wainwright (old Ladd Field) in Fairbanks.
The debris left by the military after the war stretches from Attu to Metlakatla, from Barrow to Kodiak. Old fuel drums, left to rust and leach into the landscape, were nicknamed tundra daisies. Discarded military munitions, entire pieces of military hardware, and tons of scrap metal covered large areas.
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| WW II Era Fuel Drums Tundra Daisies www.akaction.org |
These concerns have prompted the EPA to address this legacy of pollution with some clean-up and restoration initiatives. The military has also spent many millions of dollars to conduct clean up operations. Much remains to be done.
It's now the 21st century. World War II has been over for decades. And yet, its footprint is still present in Alaska. This summary of some of the impacts of WW II is just an introduction. There are many intriguing paths to explore and many sources to investigate. Alaska is still considered strategic for national security; the AK Congressional delegation is always quick to remind any members of Congress who are not aware of the history. The impacts and legacy of World War II continue.
EXAMINE
- Alaska was never the same after World War II. Consider the area where you live. How was it impacted by the war, and what legacy exists today?
- The military in Alaska continues to influence the state economically, politically, and socially. Describe where the major military installations are in Alaska today, and discuss the economic, political, and social influences for all of Alaska.
- Is there a National Guard unit in your area? Describe it, including its mission, size, and recent activities.
Musings from my back yard.....
Links, links, and more links....
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| Naval Air Station Sitka - North Hanger www.sitkaww2.com |
After the war, this installation was turned over to the Bureau of Indian Affairs which converted the medical facility into a hospital to serve Alaska Native patients; the rest of the base was converted into a residential school for AK Native students. Both were renamed after the prominent geographic feature of the area, Mt. Edgecumbe.
Some of the first students to attend Mt.Edgecumbe School in 1947 were children who were former WW II Aleut POWs from Attu. They had spent the war years in Japan, and were repatriated when the war ended. Consider how their world had changed.
Even today there are windows on the Mt. Edgecumbe High School campus with black-out paint intact; the old flight tower radio room which now houses recreation equipment still has a massive map of Alaska painted on a wall by the radio operators. The top of the flight tower reveals the best view of Sitka.
Military terminology from the war years has become part of the language of MEHS (since 1985 a state operated school open to any Alaska high school student). When students go to the school clinic, they are going to sick bay. When they do their assigned daily chores to keep the dorms clean, they are doing details.
Links?
World War II + education + health care + population/settlement - Do you see the connections?
As we approach the final project, keep looking for links in your Alaska.
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| 49th Star Added to Flag, June 30, 1958 VILDA AMRC-b63-14-1 |
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| Anecia Olympic With Her Sled 1966 Igiugig, AK (quonset hut in bkgrd.) VILDA IGI-2011-001-0025 |
What's Next? - Your turn to Blog It!
