A Story From Attu

KodiakBeer · May 27, 2014

The headstones at Fort Richardson National Cemetery include the ranks of the deceased or, in the case of family members, the rank of the service member to whom they were related.
But the marker at Plot A, Row 1, Grave 2 is different. That one bears only a name and date of death. No rank.
That's because Charles Foster Jones was a civilian, the only civilian killed by the Japanese army in North America during World War II. Though he never enlisted in the military, he is honored on this Memorial Day along with the hundreds of soldiers, sailors, airmen and officers buried beneath the neat rows of white stone.
Jones' part in the war is often mentioned in passing, but few know much about the man. One who does is Mary Breu, author of "Last Letters From Attu" (Alaska Northwest Books). Published in 2009, the book is primarily a biography of her great-aunt, Etta Schureman Jones, but also contains much information about Etta's husband, Charles.

.....

The couple was separated and Charles Jones was grilled, perhaps tortured. No records remain.
"Finally they told him to fix the radio," Breu said. "He didn't. And they killed him."
The Japanese informed Etta that her husband had slashed his wrist and committed suicide. They brought her into the school to see the body in a pool of blood. Then, as she looked on, they decapitated the corpse.
Attu men were summoned and ordered to bury the body without a coffin. They interred him near the church, carefully noting the position of the grave and Jones' clothing. A small bottle was placed at the head of the grave in accordance with local custom.
Click to expand...

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/23/3483793/the-lone-civilian-one-alaska-war.html?sp=/99/110//#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/23/3483793/the-lone-civilian-one-alaska-war.html?sp=/99/110//#storylink=cpy

http://www.adn.com/2014/05/23/3483793/the-lone-civilian-one-alaska-war.html?sp=/99/110//

TD-Tommy776 · May 28, 2014

It is important that stories like this one be told and remembered. To some this may seem a minor story that didn't really affect the outcome of the War. However, it should be remembered because there was a lot of courage and honor, fighting and dying by many who were not so "fortunate" as to be in a "significant" battle.

Be at peace, Charles & Etta.

KJ Jr · May 28, 2014

Thank you for posting KB. Well written and heartfelt story.

KodiakBeer · May 29, 2014

Many of the villagers died in a slave labor camp in Hokkaido where they were put to work in a depleted coal mine on starvation rations. After the war, they never went back to Attu because not enough were left alive to reestablish the village. They went to Atka, another island further east in the chain and merged with the village there.

johnrmoses · Jan 8, 2015

Thank you for sharing this. I just finished a great book on Attu.

Log in or Sign up

A Story From Attu

KodiakBeer Member

TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

KJ Jr Well-Known Member

KodiakBeer Member

johnrmoses New Member

Share This Page

About US

Useful Links