This Alaska fort’s 1942 evacuation order killed more natives in WWII than Japanese bombs

The Unangax̂ Wartime Internment Following Dutch Harbor Bombing

After Japan bombed Dutch Harbor in June 1942, the U.S. made a harsh choice. Officials forced 881 Unangax̂ people from nine Aleutian villages to pack up and go.

Some had just 24 hours to leave. Many watched as troops burned their homes so Japan couldn’t use them.

The Unangax̂ ended up in six camps with no power, plumbing, or good care.

Nearly 10% died there from poor conditions, yet they stayed until 1945, long after the threat was gone.

Fort Abercrombie in Alaska now tells this hidden story through its Military History Museum, where the full weight of this wartime tragedy comes to life.

Japanese Planes Hit Alaska in June 1942

On June 3-4, 1942, Japanese forces bombed American soil for the first time since the War of 1812. They sent 92 planes in two waves to attack Dutch Harbor naval base in Alaska.

The planes hit military buildings, fuel tanks, and housing for 9,000 American troops. Though damage was less than Pearl Harbor, the attack shocked many.

By June 12, Japanese troops took over the Alaskan islands of Attu and Kiska, capturing an American weather team and bringing war to U.S. territory.

Military Leaders Forced All Unangax̂ People From Their Homes

On June 29, 1942, Admiral Freeman signed orders to remove “all natives from the Aleutian islands” from their homeland. The Alaska War Council feared more Unangax̂ villages might fall to Japanese troops.

General Simon Buckner didn’t like the plan but helped carry it out anyway. Military officials worried the villages might help enemy forces if taken.

The order affected nine villages across the Aleutian chain, and no one asked the communities what they thought about it.

Families Got Just Hours to Pack Their Lives Into Suitcases

The USS Delarof came to St. Paul and St. George islands on June 16, 1942, to move 450 Pribilof Islanders. Navy boats got orders four days earlier to take Atka villagers and burn their village.

Many people worked at fish camps and came home to find their houses already gone. Most could take only one suitcase of belongings.

Children grabbed toys while adults packed family photos and religious items. The military gave no time to plan, forcing people to make tough choices about what to leave behind.

Smoke Rose From Atka Village as People Watched Their Homes Burn

On July 18, 1942, Atka folks learned they had just 24 hours to leave. U.S. troops set fire to their homes and church while villagers watched from the shore.

The military called this a “scorched earth” plan to keep buildings from Japanese use. Families stood helpless as flames ate through generations of history and community life.

The fires wiped out not just buildings but also fishing gear, tools, and other items too big to carry. The whole village that had stood for generations vanished in a single day.

Navy Ships Carried Scared Villagers Into Unknown Futures

The S.S. Alaska picked up 137 Unangax̂ at Captain’s Bay on July 22, 1942. Ship workers took away hunting guns that men had brought with them.

They split women and men into different areas during the long trip south. The ship left in thick fog, and no one knew where they were going.

Children cried for parents they couldn’t see. Older folks worried about sacred items left behind.

The tight quarters offered little comfort during the rough trip, with many getting seasick.

Old Canneries Became Prison Camps For Native Alaskans

The government sent 881 Unangax̂ from nine villages to six spots across Southeast Alaska. St. Paul and St. George villagers ended up at an empty cannery at Funter Bay on June 24, 1942.

Officials dropped 83 Atka residents at an old herring plant at Killisnoo. Other groups went to Wrangell Institute, Ward Lake, and Burnett Inlet camps.

The buildings sat empty for years before people arrived.

Cannery owners took all good equipment, leaving only broken-down buildings far from towns where people could get supplies or medical help.

Leaky Roofs and No Running Water Greeted Evacuees

People found themselves stuffed into rotting buildings with holes in roofs and walls. The camps had no electricity, plumbing, heat, or proper toilets.

At Funter Bay, 300 people shared one toilet and slept 6-13 people in each tiny room. Water ran short and pipes froze in winter.

Rain poured through leaky roofs, making everything damp. Families hung blankets to create privacy in the open warehouses.

The government gave no money to fix the buildings, so people made repairs with whatever scraps they could find.

Sickness Spread Through Camps While Doctors Stayed Away

Pneumonia and tuberculosis raced through the camps where people lived in damp, cold buildings. Medical help rarely came despite widespread illness.

Deaths reached 32 at Funter Bay, 17 at Killisnoo, 20 at Ward Lake, and 5 at Burnett Inlet. Almost 10% of all camp residents died during the war years.

The nearest hospitals were hours or days away by boat. Women gave birth without proper care.

Traditional healers tried to help but lacked their usual plants and supplies. The government sent few doctors, leaving families to care for their sick with little help.

Villagers Built Churches From Scrap Wood to Keep Traditions Alive

People built makeshift churches and kept religious icons saved from their home villages.

Twenty-five Unangax̂ men joined the Armed Forces despite their families being held in camps, with three earning Bronze Stars for bravery. Villagers held secret votes in elections, keeping their rights as citizens.

People tried to find work and make their living spaces better despite strict rules about leaving the camps. Women taught children traditional songs and stories.

Elders passed down cultural knowledge through the long days away from home.

Three Years Passed Before Families Could Go Home

American troops beat back the Japanese by fall 1943, taking back Attu and Kiska islands. Yet the government kept Unangax̂ people in camps until mid-1945 when the war ended.

Most villages sat empty for years, with buildings falling apart from neglect. Some communities like Attu never got rebuilt after the war.

When families finally returned home, they found broken houses, damaged churches, and stolen belongings. The government offered no help rebuilding villages or replacing lost property.

Many families had to start over completely.

Congress Finally Paid Survivors $12,000 Each in 1988

The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians formed in 1980 to investigate what happened to the Unangax̂ people.

Public hearings began in 1981, where survivors shared painful testimonies about their experiences. Congress passed the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act in 1988 after years of advocacy.

The law provided $12,000 payments to surviving victims and created a $6.4 million community trust fund.

Many elders who suffered the worst hardships had already died before receiving any compensation.

The payments came 43 years after the camps closed, too late for many who never lived to see this recognition of the injustice they endured.

Visiting Fort Abercrombie, Alaska

Fort Abercrombie at 1400 Abercrombie Drive in Kodiak was the main command center that coordinated the forced removal of 881 Unangax̂ people to internment camps during WWII.

The volunteer-run museum is free and open weekends in May/September and Friday-Monday in summer from 1-4pm.

You can walk self-guided trails to see gun emplacements and bunkers, plus exhibits with teletype machines and artillery displays. You’ll need to pay a day-use parking fee.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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