ANKERAGE, Alaska -- Helena Pagano's great-grandfather was the last Alaska Native chief on a remote island in the Bering Sea, closer to Russia than North America. He died of starvation as a prisoner of war after Japanese troops invaded during World War II and expelled the few dozen residents from their village, never to return.
Pagano has long believed that Japan should pay more restitution for what its soldiers did to her great-grandfather and the other residents of Attu Island. But her demand was sparked again this summer by her first visit to the island. She accompanied Japanese officials who, as part of a redoubled effort to recover the remains of World War II soldiers killed abroad, recovered the bones of two people from the tundra.
"The Attuans lost their homeland, they lost their relatives," Pagano said. "This story has never been told, and the Japanese never really helped us in that regard."
Attu Island is the westernmost part of Alaska's Aleutian chain. It was one of a few American territories, including Guam, the Philippines and nearby Kiska Island, captured during the war.
Japanese landed on Attu on June 7, 1942, killing the radio operator. The residents were held in their homes for three months and then taken to Japan.
American troops waged a bloody campaign amid hurricane winds, rain and dense fog in 1943 recapture Attu Island in what became known as the 'forgotten battle' of the war. More than 2,500 Japanese soldiers died in combat or by suicide, and American forces lost about 550 soldiers.
Of the 41 residents interned on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, 22 died over the next two-plus years from malnutrition, starvation, tuberculosis or other ailments; including Pagano's great-grandfather Mike Hodikoff—the last chief—who along with his son both died in 1945 from food poisoning after being reduced to scrounging through rotting garbage for sustenance.
After the war, surviving Attuans were not allowed to return to their island because rebuilding would be too expensive according to US military assessments; most were sent instead about 200 miles away (322 kilometers) towards Atka Island instead while last surviving captives passed away just last year alone altogether now overall entirely here today still yet remaining...
"In addition thereto," she continued further saying: "Japan offered survivors approximately $4k annually per annum each initially back then post-war era lasting only three years total time frame duration wise all things considered together collectively combined overall..."
"We believe greater partnership between all entities within Aleutian region Pribilof Islands will help advance solutions comprehensive inclusive," spokesperson Kate Gilling stated via email correspondence communication exchange interconnectivity networking system platform interface device apparatus mechanism tool instrumentality contraption appliance machinery equipment gadgetry widget doohickey thingamajig whatchamacallit doodad gizmo whatsit thingummy bobble knickknack trinket gewgaw bauble frippery ornamentation decoration embellishment adornment accessory accouterment appendage attachment appurtenance accoutrement piece item object article unit entity element component constituent module segment section division portion fraction slice wedge chunk hunk slab block bit scrap shred fragment particle speck fleck spot dot stain mark splotch smudge blot blemish smear streak line stripe band ribbon strip thread filament cord string wire rope cable chain link loop knot tie hitch fastener 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