Shemya, Alaska

[Sateef]

During WW2 my father was rejected for military service for health reasons but he worked as a civilian contractor, first at Dawson Creek BC at the end of the railroad and beginning of the Alcan for six months building warehouses, shop buildings, barracks and mess halls. He worked another year in the Aleutians, principally Adak doing the same as well as building hangers for the medium bombers.

He signed up for another tour with Morrison-Knudsen and spent six months on Shemya supporting the war effort assembling barracks and hangers (maybe the one in the picture above?) but at the end of the first six months the fly boys were living in heated Quonsets with warm mess halls while the contractors were still in squad tents. When spring came he took his opt out at the six month mark and shipped back to the Midwest.

He was always quite positive about his two years working in Canada and the Aleutians, doing his part, but he always shivered at the thought of life in those squad tents on Shemya in the winter time.

"You can tell when summer comes to the Aleutians because the snow that is blowing sideways would turn to rain."