Jan 06issue.pub (Read-Only)

Gardens Galore At One Time
Unalakleet’s sand spit once had a topsoil
prime for an Arctic summer growth and
many of the local members grew several
vegetables for sale. E.B. Larsson was a
replacement missionary for the Covenant
Church and taught many of our people in
the early 1900s a way to supplement their
subsistence style of living.
For example, Oliver Anawrok’s garden
had potatoes, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, and
turnips. (He probably had more, but his
generation was very ambitious in growing
their annual supply of food.) As you can
see in photos, his crops were strong and
healthy.
Photos by Everette Carr
Everette Carr’s Story, 1955
Everette Carr was an Airman Second Class
in the United States Air Force attached to a
Special Operations detachment of the
5004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron
at Nome. Headquarters for the 5004th
AISS was at Elmendorf Air Force Base in
Anchorage. At the time that he was assigned
to Unalakleet, the mission was classified.
His primary mission was the gathering
of intelligence information. (The
mission, has since then, been declassified.)
He was one of twelve men (Intelligence
Specialist) that were placed in key towns
and villages from Unalakleet to the south
to Point Hope in the north, including villages
on King Island, St. Lawrence Island
and Little Diomede Island. All of these
Intelligence Specialist wore civilian
clothes and carried identification that indicated
that the individual was an employee
of the United States Government. All of
their activities were overt, and there were
no covert operations of any kind conducted.
All this activity was during the height of
the Cold War with Russia and, at that time,
it was believed that any attack on the U.S.
would be across Alaska. As part of their
assignment, they were called upon to iden-
tify friendly natives among the populace
that would be willing and able to provide
aid and protection to downed U.S. pilots.
They were charged with the mission
of identifying edible native plants so as to
provide information that would allow
downed pilots to survive in the Alaska
wilderness.
In the event of war, while they were living
in the Eskimo villages, they were to assist
any downed U.S. pilots and to provide
means for their safe return.
Carr completed his Alaskan tour in May,
1956 and returned state-side. He completed
his four year tour with the Air Force
in Texas in November, 1957 and returned
to his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He
has lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania since
1968.
(the Native Village of Unalakleet thanks
Everette Carr for sharing his story.)
Permission given by Mr. Carr to publish
his story and some of his photos.
The beach was teaming with nets and
boats. Seines (nets) were hung on drying
poles so that the nets would not rot. Johnson
9 horses were the choice of many; you
could even turn the motor 180° when you
go seining. Occasionally, you would find
someone with a larger outboard motor (a
huge 22 hp Johnson). Pin ni yuk was a
common word when traveling to a camping
or fishing spot in the river. Families
often camped in the Fall to get their winter
supply of food. Picking berries and fishing
with a becq ho tuc (fishing pole and line)
were additional chores when camping.
Myles Gonangnan and his wife Moyohack.
Myles was secretary when NVU
was first established in 1939. The Memorial
Hall is named after him.
Volume 3, Issue 1 The Unalik p. 9