Nore recognized for WWII service in Alaska

At the outset of World War II, Alaska had not yet achieved statehood, but rather was a territorial possession of the United States. The world was at war, and the land that was to become the Last Frontier was the front line of defense against the Imperial Japanese armed forces.

Against that backdrop, Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening established the Alaska Territorial Guard in March of 1942 to protect the future state against any possible invasion of the Japanese.

Wrangell contributed nearly 100 soldiers to the effort, all of whom were unpaid volunteers in the defense of the territory.

One of those soldiers was Wrangell native Kjell Nore.

Nore, who served as a private in ATG, was among 97 Wrangellites who defended Alaska at posts across the state.

Mercedes Angerman, herself a Wrangell native and Deputy Director of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs for the State of Alaska, was in the borough last week to present Nore with the Alaska Territorial Guard Service Medal and a commemorative coin from Governor Sean Parnell’s office. The presentation was made in honor of Nore’s five-year service stint between 1942-47.

“Kjell was one of 97 members of the guard in Wrangell,” Angerman said. “They were established across the territory and were mainly for people who were too young or too old to go into the service at that time. So, Kjell and the others were recruited as volunteers to watch for enemy forces during the war.”

Members of the ATG served in a variety of posts from Metlakatla to Barrow, according to Angerman.

“Kjell is also the only member of the Alaska unit in Wrangell who is still alive and in the city,” she added. “There are other members of the Wrangell unit that are still living in other places, but he is the only one here that is still alive.”

As a part of her duties, Angerman works on the state’s Territorial Guard Research Project – and investigates ways to find members and ensure they are properly discharged and recognized for their service during the war.

“We’re trying to locate family and find death records or living people who served or are related to those that did, so we can get their official U.S. Army discharge,” Angerman said. “I happened to be in town for my father’s 80th birthday and it’s the right thing to do to see that Kjell and others who served are honored in the way they deserve to be.”

Once a member is located, they are discharged in accordance with Army regulations and their military service record from the guard is placed in the National Archives – a move helped greatly by the late Sen. Ted Stevens.

“There were a lot of people that helped get his on its way,” Angerman added. “But Ted Stevens was a big player in that and, in 2000, it became law. We began the project in about 2003 to identify these people across the State of Alaska. It was a very daunting task with over 6000 people we had to find.”

Terry Courson, the Post Commander for the American Legion in Wrangell, added that Alaska could stand proud in memory of ATG service members.

“I believe in the honorable efforts of the Alaska Territorial Guard,” Courson said. “Those fine men, and yes I include the young men who are considered juveniles by today’s standards, stepped up and in the spirit of our nation’s founders, took up arms in the defense of their nation. They knew that the land was theirs and would defend it if invaded. I am grateful for all that the Alaska Territorial Guard contributed to the war effort and I applaud them.”

The Alaska Territorial Guard Service Medal is given on behalf of the governor of the state, with Nore’s award certificate being signed by the Adjutant General, Major General Tom Katkus. Nore was also presented with a replica uniform patch of the unit.