Interviews

Available here are stories from the War in the Aleutians, in the words of its participants.

Interviewees are grouped by their branch of the military, and then listed alphabetically

The Home Front	US Navy	US Army
US Marines	US Coast Guard	Foreign Services

 

Stories From the Home Front

Eleanor Mae Cramer - Working in the Burbank Lockheed Aircraft Plant, she recalls plant security, secret product development, rationing, & bomb scares.

 

Veterans of the Navy

Walter "Andy" Anderson - Serving as an aerographer in the US Navy, he was stationed at a remote outpost on Attu Island. He talks about the fun had and challenges faced.	Robert Buchanan - As an Aviation Mechanic for VP-61 Bob served in the Aleutians and South Pacific. He flew dozens of missions in a PBY and lived to tell about them.	Charles Donovan - As radio operator he traveled to Umnak Island aboard USS Spica in 1942. He later served in Seattle, Guam and mine sweeping in Japan on USS Concise.
John Fahey - As a radioman, he endured some harrowing voyages on the USS St. Mihiel transporting troops & serving as hospital ship for battle wounded.	Charles Fitzpatrick - A Naval aviator, Charles flew numerous missions from Attu to the Kurile Islands, a part of Japan.	Al Gentle - A native of Birmingham, AL, Al spent time at a number of state-side bases before being sent to the Aleutians, where he reached the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Wilbur Green - Wilbur "Bill" Green captained a patrol boat in WWII and fondly recalls his crew and missions in the Aleutians.	Vic Krygowski - An Ordnance Officer on the USS Beaver and later SS-292 Devilfish (sub tender), Vic dodged the "wolf pack" en route to Britain before landing in Alaska.	Ben Lada - Boleslaw "Ben" Anthony Lada served two tours in the Aleutians as part of VP-62, Crew 7.
Kenneth "Ray" Skinner - Ray was a radioman who served three tours of duty in the Aleutians as part of VP-41, VP-61 and VP-62 and flew in the PBY-5A.	Donald W. Stobbs - Transplanted from a Midwest farm to the Attu tundra Donald Stobbs served in VPB-135 where he served as a navigator in a PV-2.

 

Veterans of the Army

Harry Bailey - Harry served with the Harbor Craft Detachment supplying necessities to Aleutian bases. He recalls some of the most memorable voyages and daily life.	Theodore Bouchette - He served with the 37th Infantry Regiment from 1941-44 participating in the Battle of Attu and first landings on Amchitka and Adak.	Hale Burge - He was an aircraft mechanic who saw first-hand the dangers of flight. He witnessed the Battle of Attu and served as crew chief on several aircraft after WWII.
Frank Carnes - Frank served in the 14th Signal Corp in the Aleutians from 1943-45 and later worked for DOT in Alaska. He recalls events and places from Alaska's past.	Charles "Mack" Collings - Mack served in the 4th Infantry Band arriving in Seward, Alaska in 1940. He hopped from island to island entertaining the troops along the way.	Walter Dalegowski - A P-38 mechanic with the 54th FS he was stationed on Amchitka, Adak and Attu. He witnessed the maiden flight of the Lockheed Super Constellation.
Robert Davis - As part of the Army Air Force Reserve Corp. Robert remembers a miserable boat trip to the Aleutians, plane crashes and being shot at by a US pilot.	Kate Dougal - Katie, a war bride, worked and volunteered with amputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where she saw the pain and devastation of war.	Robert Dougal - Bob went to radio school and remembers installing the first radar on Kiska, how unprepared they were for living on Kiska and what the Japanese left behind.
Herb Gedney - He served in the 11th Air Force in Alaska and the 8th Air Force in Europe. He received 2 battle stars and 3 presidential citations for his service.	Joseph Hutchison - An aerial gunner in the 21st Bomb Squadron, Joe bombed the Kurile Islands and saw the beginning of the effort to expel the Japanese from Kiska.	John Pletcher - John served as an Army Air Corp Reserve pilot during World War II. He recalls experiences as a B-18 and B-26 pilot as a member of the 73rd Bomb Squadron.
Paul Polink - Paul was a gunner/aircraft mechanic for the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron transporting important people and goods. Five in his family served in WWII.	Jim Schroeder - Jim was a radar operator on a B-24 for the 404th Bomb Squadron. He flew 14 missions during his tour and recalls some of the more memorable flights.	Craig Stolze - Craig served in the 39th Air Depot Repair Squadron. He was one of 6 boys in his family that served in the war and became an award winning sports writer.

 

Veterans of the Marines

interviews yet to come

 

Veterans of the Coast Guard

David Hemming Hendrickson - A coxswain aboard USS Albuquerque, David served in the Aleutians from 1943-46. The Albuquerque and crew provided escort, patrol and life saving services.

 

Veterans of Foreign Services

Lucien Desjardins - Lucien served with the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals laying wire for phones between camps. He recalls the battle for Kiska and working alongside allied forces.