Homesteads on Fort Richardson, Alaska - The USARAK Home Page ...

as the rear support base for units moving to occupy forward positions. 45 The bombingof Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, changed life dramatically for the citizensof Anchorage. Many feared that Alaska would be the next target, and family membersof military personnel were urged to evacuate the territory. Strict blackout regulationswere enforced at night. Anchorage was tensely preparing for the worst as“gas masks were carried; fire-fighting equipment was distributed; guards were placedat key utilities; vehicles were given white camouflage painting; [and] warning wereissued concerning possible sabotage.” 46 New military personnel continued arrivingat a steady pace throughout 1942 as pressures mounted.On June 3, 1942, the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor. They then quickly directedtheir energies towards the Aleutians, occupying the islands of Attu and Kiska. TheU.S. military further stepped up its operations to regain the lost territory. The Armyand Navy eventually retook the islands in 1943, though it tied up nearly 150,000American and Canadian troops in the process. 47 From that point, the threat of invasiondecreased and the military scaled back its presence. In 1945, there were 60,000troops in Alaska. By 1946 the number had decreased to 19,000. 48The overall impact of World War II in Alaska was to have lasting effects on theterritory. “Never before, not even at the time of the gold rushes, was the Territory soadvertised…The side and residual benefits to the civilian economy and the developmentof Alaskan communications, transportation and land use were tremendousand lasting” 49 (USARAL, 85). The growth brought on by the military would bringlarge numbers of permanent settlers to the territory and eventually help provide abasis for the statehood of Alaska. 50The W. W. II buildup of military activities in Alaska was not good news for manyhomesteaders. Fort Richardson was established on land that was originally occupiedby homesteaders or people in the process of “proving up” on homestead claims.The government’s acquisition of the area caused discontent among some of thelandowners. People were frequently dissatisfied with the price offered by the governmentfor the land. There was little recourse for those still in the process ofproving up on homestead claims. Since they had not yet met the homestead requirements,they did not own the land they were living on. Such people were compensatedfor the buildings they had constructed, but received no money for the value ofthe land. Many people living on Fort Richardson were extremely close to receivingpatent when the land was withdrawn. This resulted in some problems and confusionover acquisition rights, which the government tried to resolve as quickly aspossible. Those who had patent owned their land and could refuse the initial governmentoffer. The U.S. government then sued on the grounds that the land wasneeded for the fort’s establishment. Three appraisers were hired, one independentof the proceedings and one by each the defendant and plaintiff in the case. Oftenthe three appraisals differed significantly and several court cases dragged out untilthe 1960s. 5145Public Information Officer. The U.S. Army in Alaska. p. 88.46Public Information Officer. The U.S. Army in Alaska. p. 88.47Cloe. “The Legacy of War” p. 395.48Tower. Anchorage, From Its Humble Origins as a Railroad Construction Camp. p. 85.49Public Information Officer. The U.S. Army in Alaska. p. 85.50Cloe. “The Legacy of War”. p. 397.51Daugherty and Saleeby. Elmendorf Air Force Base Homestead Study. p.13.16<strong>Homesteads</strong> on Fort RichardsonAlaska