Photo By Kare Lohse

ATTU’S RESIDENTS: DECEASED & SURVIVED

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Japanese forces aboard several ships reached Attu on the evening of 7 June, 1942, anchoring in Holtz Bay located on

the west side of the island. It wasn't until the next morning, a Sunday, that the first contingency of Japanese

reached Attu village located near Chichagof Harbor just as the Attuans were leaving church services. Attu's

Unangan residents, along with Etta Jones (Etta's husband, Foster, had been killed shortly after being captured by

the Japanese), were under Japanese control for three months prior to being loaded aboard a Japanese merchant

ship, Yoko Maru, in mid-September of 1942. At this time the village on Attu was still intact. The ship left Attu on

the 14th of September, 1942 heading for Kiska. Anecia Prokopeuff died on board the ship during the passage to

Kiska. At Kiska the Attuans were transferred to yet another ship, the Nagata Maru. They were kept in a cargo hold

that had been used to transport coal. They remained in the hold all the way to Japan save for periodic trips to the

main deck. The trip to Japan took two weeks, with their final destination being the industrial city of Otaru, located

on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. By the end of the war, of the forty people that made it to Otaru, only 24 survived.

Most died of malnutrition and a diet of food to which they were not accustomed. (For a complete presentation of

the Attuan's ordeal, please read the recently published book, "Attu Boy," documenting their personal accounts.

This book can be obtained from the National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, 907-644-3742). The following is a

listing of those who died in Japan, and those who survived (note: Etta Jones also survived and returned to the

United States at war's end):

Deceased prior to 11/27/1945

Artumonoff, John - b. 1882, d. 1942 on Attu Artumonoff, Mavra - b. 1924, d. 1944 Artumonoff, Peter - 23, b. 1920, d. 1944 Borenin, Annie Golodoff - b. 1919, d. 1943 Golodoff, Artelion "Arty" (Angelina's baby, b. and d. 1943 in Japan) Golodoff, Harman (Garman) - 55, b. 1888, d. 1945 Golodoff, Helen - b. 1929, d. 1944 Golodoff, Lavrenti - b. 1900, d. 1945 Golodoff, Leonti - b. 1931, d. 1943 Golodoff, Mary - b. 1895, d. 1943 Golodoff, Michael (Julia's baby, b. and d. 1943 in Japan) Golodoff, Valvigian (Valirjian) - b. 1939, d. 1943 Hodikoff, Anecia (Mike H.'s baby, b. and d. 1943 in Japan) Hodikoff, Fred (Fedosay) - b. 1901, d. 1945 Hodikoff, George - 17, b. 1929, d. 1945 Hodikoff, Michael Gorga "Mike" (Chief) - b. 1893, d. 1945 Lokanin, Gabriel (Mike L.'s baby, b. and d. 1944 in Japan) Lokanin, Tatiana - b. 1941, d. 1944 Prokopioff, Anecia Kriukov (Golodoff) - b. 1886, d. 1942 while traveling to Japan Prokopioff, Mary - b. 1929, d. 1943 Prossoff, Bladimir - b. 1932, d. 1943 Prossoff, Martha Hodikoff - b. 1903, d. 1943

Surviving on 11/27/1945

Artumonoff, Sergi - 19, b. 1927, last recorded in 1966 Golodoff (Prokopioff), Alfred Jr. (b. 1945 in Japan) Golodoff (Prossoff), Thecla (Fekla) - 10, b. 1935 Golodoff, Elizabeth - 3, b. 1941 Golodoff, Gregory - 6, b. 1940 Golodoff, Innokinty "Popeye" - 28, b. 1917, d. 1998 Golodoff, John - 18, b. 1927, d. 2009 Golodoff, Julia Prokopeuff - 24, b. 1923, d. 1954 Golodoff, Mary Tarkanoff Lokanin - 28, b. 1918, d. before 1963 Golodoff, Nick - 9, b. 1935 Golodoff, Olean - 5, b. 1939 Golodoff, Olean Horosoff - 36, b. 1911, d. after 1976 Golodoff, Willie - 37, b. 1918, d. 1983 Hodikoff, Angelina - 19, b. 1927, d. 1981 Hodikoff, Annie Yatchmenoff - 28, b. 1918, disappears from records in Tacoma hospital 1945 Hodikoff, John - 21, b. 1927 Hodikoff, Marina - 7, b. 1938, d. 1996 Hodikoff, Martha - 9, b. 1937 Hodikoff, Stephen - 14, b. 1931, d. 1985 Lokanin, Mike - 33, b. 1912, d. 1961 Lokanin, Parascovia Horosoff - 23, b. 1922, d. 1994 Prokopioff (Golodoff), Alfred Sr. - 38, b. 1908, d. 1963 (or 1974?) Prossoff, Agnes - 6, b. 1940, d. 1980 Prossoff, Alexy - 29, b. 1916, d. before 1949 Prossoff, Elizabeth Prokopioff Golodoff - 27, b. 1919
Relocation After the war most of the Attuan survivors were returned to the Aleutian Islands. However, as their village on Attu was completely destroyed during the battle for Attu, many were resettled on the Aleutian Island known as "Atka." The island of Attu was too dangerous for resettlement as a result of unexploded ordinance and other dangers to life and limb left behind. For more of their story, read "Attu Boy," and check out these links as well: Written Histories, Telling the Story of Attu. For information regarding the possibility of being able to obtain copies of these materials at no cost contact: Rachel Mason Program Manager 240 West 5th Avenue 99501 (907) 644-3472 https://www.nps.gov/Aleu/contacts.htm