Daily Archives: June 30, 2006

The Battle of the Aleutian Islands was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. A small Japanese force occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska but the remoteness of the islands and the difficulties of weather and terrain meant that it took nearly a year for a large U.S. force to eject them. To read the entire article – see the wikipedia – your online enclyclopedia.

Today we are featuring some photos by Tom Mlinar, who has sent us pictures of Delta’s past in the last 6 months. Thank you Tom for a look into Alaska’s past.

Nikola Mlinar and Buddy, taken in Attu, Alaska WWII, 1943. Photo Courtesy Tom Mlinar

During world war two (WWII). It was kind of traditional, or at least in our area of Town Of Lake, Wisconsin, when a servicemen was off to war, they usually sent these little silky pillow cases to their mothers, sisters, or sweethearts. Most homes living rooms, or front rooms as we called them, had these little throw pillows about 18 inches square. They usually were on the daven ports, or couches. My oldest brother, Nick, was in the initial invasion of Attu Alaska, May 13 1943, and was there until Nov 1944. He was in Hq&Hqs Battery, 591st Anti Aircraft, Automatic Weapons Battlion. He sent these cases home to my sister. Recently She passed away, and these were among some of the things she had saved. The are all at least 60 years old.
PVT Nikola Mlinar
BBQ rotisserie built by guys at Attu Alaska 1944.

Japanese Army truck.

With the forest fires also comes some opportunities for some beautiful sunset pictures. This one was taken between 11:00 pm and midnight behind the Golden Valley Electric Association building in Delta Junction, Alaska, on June 23, 2006. Photo courtesy Barbara Tharp.