Wrangell resident participates in war memorial proceedings

A Wrangellite had a unique opportunity to take part in some Alaskan history this year, while revisiting her own family history in the process.

Johanna Joseph and her sister, Ann Conatser a Walla Walla resident, were invited by the Ounalashka Corporation to attend an event in Unalaska commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Dutch Harbor. The town had been the birthplace of their mother, Theadosia Stepitan Nauska, known as Fanny to friends and family.

The battle itself was part of Japan's Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II, and took place between its Imperial Navy and United States armed forces June 3 and 4, 1942. Soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard stationed around Dutch Harbor Naval Base and Fort Mears held off aircraft from a Japanese carrier strike force during the two-day attack. Japanese bombers attacked the base early the first day, with a second attack that included Mitsubishi Zero fighters taking place against naval targets the next afternoon.

The Japanese successfully sank one transport vessel at Dutch Harbor, and damaged a number of facilities, merchant ships and support services. This second strike force encountered an American sortie of P-40 Warhawk fighters on its return, losing several planes but also downing four U.S. fighters. Seventy-eight Americans were killed during the attacks, losing 14 aircraft in the process. The Japanese lost seven planes in all, with 10 killed and five captured. A largely undamaged Zero was also recovered by American forces, and provided valuable insight into the capabilities of Japan's main fighter.

After the attack the Japanese occupied Attu and Kiska islands, with the majority of Aleut residents on the former arrested and interned in Japan during the war. The populations of Unalaska and other Aleutian island settlements were evacuated after the battle and likewise interned by the Americans for the duration of the war, with 880 Aleuts kept in camps in Southeast Alaska. Conditions in these camps were poor, and 75 of the relocated Aleuts died of disease during internment.

Fanny Nauska had been among those who had been evacuated from Unalaska and taken to Burnett Inlet. While there she gave birth to her first daughter, Ann, on November 24, 1943. Eventually she moved to Wrangell, met and married local fisherman Henry Bradley, and gave birth to Johanna on February 20, 1945. Growing to 13 members, the family remained in Wrangell. Among her contributions to her newfound home, Nauska helped design Wrangell's city flag.

Joseph explained her mother had never talked about either the Battle of Dutch Harbor or the resulting evacuation. In the years since neither Conaster nor Joseph had ever visited their mother's Aleutian hometown, so they were both pleased at the unique opportunity. Because they were born during the war, both were invited with around 100 other evacuees, veterans and dependents involved in the conflict.

Accompanied by Joseph's daughter, Leann Bryner, after a long trip by air they were put up at the Grand Aleutian Hotel during their weekend visit, with meals and travel covered by the corporation. While there, the sisters were able to partake in the same Russian Orthodox services their uncle had once been a parishioner of, and were able to meet people who had once known their mother, Fanny. The two also were able to meet with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and participated in the anniversary's commemorative proceedings.

"We were treated like royalty," Joseph recalled. "It was a very nice time."