92-year-old honored for wartime service

WASILLA – Nick Abalama Sr., 92, received overdue recognition on May 18 when he was honored for his service in the Alaska Territorial Guard, a defense force organized during World War II.

Abalama’s home was packed Monday as family, neighbors and military officials filled his living room to celebrate his army service. Brigadier General Laurie Hummel of the Alaska National Guard was present to talk with Abalama before director of Veterans Affairs for Alaska, Verdie Bowen, presented him with a number of awards. Abalama accepted an ATG service medal, a pure silver distinguished honor coin, an ATG patch and a United States Army honorable discharge certificate.

The U.S. Army established the territorial guard in 1942 after Japanese forces attacked Hawaii and occupied parts of Alaska. The force consisted of over 6,000 mostly Alaska Native members. Of those, only about 20 staff officers in the ATG were actually paid, the rest served as volunteers. Among numerous others, the ATG was tasked with construction of military facilities, supply transportation and distribution, and scouting patrols. The ATG dissolved in 1947, although none of its members were recognized for their service or discharged formally from the military.

The Defense Appropriations Bill in 2000 confirmed that the members of the ATG had participated in active service, and as a result the state of Alaska partnered with the U.S. Army to establish a process by which former ATG members could receive official recognition.

“When we find an ATG member who is living, we ensure they receive the honor that was not presented long ago. If the member is not living then we present the discharge and medal to the next family member living,” said Bowen.

Although old records and missing information present difficulties in finding former members, the office of Veterans Affairs has created a task force that scours Alaska archives and community records, recreating personnel files so that honorable discharges can be issued.

Though he undoubtedly deserves the recognition, Abalama was nothing but modest about his service.

“I didn’t look for any award,” Abalama said.

He was, however, very enthusiastic about some exciting accounts of his time in the ATG, which he mostly spent on an Army boat sailing around the Aleutian Islands. Abalama started as a deck hand, but also served as a cook, and later as a chief oiler. He recounted one story in which, while busy tying up boats, Japanese fighters were intercepted overhead, completely unbeknownst to him. After finding out what happened, Abalama and two officers took a rowboat out and found a crashed Japanese plane, riddled with bullet holes.

The former ATG member also remembered earning expert marks in shooting, and explained that he cooked for Air Force officers at Elmendorf Air Force Base before they took off in the morning. When a brigadier general in the Aleutian chain commended Abalama’s cooking, it “made the day for me,” laughed the veteran.

He said he joined the ATG on a personal charge to never refuse a job, but stated that such service seemed daring and adventurous to him at that age.

“That was fun to me, I was young and I learned a lot,” Abalama said.

Despite his reserve after receiving recognition, Abalama couldn’t help but boast a proud smile as he held his awards.

His family confirmed the deserved admiration of his achievement.

“It’s a good feeling, I’m excited for him,” his son Lawrence admitted.

Long after the ceremony ended, Abalama’s family continued to snap photos of this long overdue moment.

Contact Kaden Weaver at 352-2270 or kaden.weaver@frontiersman.com