Alaska Territorial Guard: Defending the Coastline
Badge shown from Otto Geist Collection, Special Collections at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
The Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) helped Native people secure their communities from coastal invasion. After Japan bombed Dutch Harbor in June 1942, many tribal members from the Iñupiat and Yupiit nations along northern and western Alaska served in this volunteer guard. People of all ages and even women served.
When I was growing up, my grandparents told me about the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) and Marvin “Muktuk” Marston, the Major who helped to organize these guerilla platoons during World War II. My grandpa, Lowell Anagick, served in the ATG in Unalakleet before he served in the US Army. The US military gave WWI era Enfield rifles to members of the ATG. Common tasks included practicing drills, checking and reporting enemy planes, preserving food in caches and administering food to those in need, social activities like baseball and dances, and community organizing.
Holly Guise standing with Jorgy at his home in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo taken by Noel Jorgensen, 2017.
Holger “Jorgy” Jorgensen, (Iñupiaq-Norwegian) born 1927, from Haycock & Koyuk
Born in Haycock, Jorgy grew up with the traditional subsistence lifestyle. He joined the ATG as a teenager operating Morse code, and he then joined the Alaskan Scouts based at Fort Richardson. His interview includes stories about his time in the Alaska Scouts. The vintage photographs come from Jorgy’s family collection. As a teen activist, he staged a sit-in to integrate the Nome Dream Theater alongside Iñupiaq teen activist Alberta Schenck. In 2017, Jorgy was inducted into the Alaska Aviation Hall of Fame. Rest in power- he passed away in 2020.
Wesley at the Tuzzy Consortium Library. Photo by Holly Guise, 2017.
Wesley Ugiaqtaq Aiken (Iñupiaq), born in 1926
Wesley Ugiaqtaq Aiken served in the ATG as a teenager. He then served in the Alaska National Guard for several decades. Before joining the ATG in Utqiaġvik (Barrow), he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a reindeer herder on Alaska’s North Slope. He previously served as a whaling captain in Utqiaġvik. Over the years he committed to being a spokesperson for Alaska veterans and for Alaska Native people giving talks at Elders & Youth. Rest in peace- he passed away in 2020.
David holding his ATG discharge certificates. Photo by Holly Guise, 2017.
David Ungrudruk Leavitt Sr. (Iñupiaq), born in 1929, from Cape Halkett
David Ungrudruk Leavitt was born in 1929. He is from Cape Halkett on Alaska’s North Slope. He joined the ATG as a teenager, and he recalls how Sergeant Bert Panigeo signed his paperwork so he could join as a young member. He enjoyed attending the Honor Flight to Washington DC and meeting other ATG veterans who knew Muktuk Marston. In this interview he shares funny stories about ATG drills in Utqiaġvik (Barrow). He also talks about Muktuk Marston visiting town and using a reindeer skin as a portable mattress. He has been a hunter his entire life. His brothers taught him how to hunt and he still enjoys the subsistence lifestyle to this day.