Attu Boy: A Young Alaskan's WWII Memoir

by Nick Golodoff, Rachel Mason (Editor), Brenda Maly (Preface)

In the quiet of morning, exactly six months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese touched down on American soil. Landing on the remote Alaska island of Attu, they assailed an entire village, holding the Alaskan villagers for two months and eventually corralling all survivors into a freighter bound for Japan.One of those survivors, Nick Golodoff, became a prisoner of war at just six years old. He was among the dozens of Unangan Attu residents swept away to Hokkaido, and one of only twenty-five to survive. Attu Boy tells Golodoff’s story of these harrowing years as he found both friendship and cruelty at the hands of the Japanese. It offers a rare look at the lives of civilian prisoners and their captors in WWII-era Japan. It also tells of Golodoff’s bittersweet return to a homeland torn apart by occupation and forced internments. Interwoven with other voices from Attu, this richly illustrated memoir is a testament to the struggles, triumphs, and heartbreak of lives disrupted by war.

Genres: History

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2015

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begins with a raw and rambling account of the WWII experiences of a 6 year old Aleutian POW and author of the book. It goes on to include the accounts of several other internees. Dates and times did not match up. This could be disconcerting to someone if they know nothing about the way the way that oral histories and recollections are written down.

I found the book to be a fascinating history that I was completely unaware of. I had read a few histories of the Aleutian Campaign but none of them mentioned the internment of the entire population of Attu Island, the 50% death rate that they suffered on Hokkaido Island, nor the fact that they were not allowed to return to their village at the end of the war.

I strongly recommended this book for anyone interested in the Aleutian Campaign.

[earthshattering · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly sad. The author, Nick Golodoff, and the other Attuans, tell their story in a very direct, matter-of-fact way. It makes the suffering they endured even more sad. Typically, you hear of the lightest suffering told in flowery, expansive language, and this is the opposite. It is really sad that this little boy who didn't know what was going on actually liked Japan, and didn't understand starvation, malnutrition, and disease from being prisoners of war. This is a heartbreaking story.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides many first hand accounts of what the people of Attu suffered at the hands of the Japanese during their incarceration during WWII. They were removed from their homes and taken to Japan where they were held for the duration of the war.

[Angela Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book.

Growing up the first several years of my life on the Aleutian Islands I enjoy reading stories and books about the history of the people and the different islands there. This book was interesting and had some great historical information.

[Cienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wholesome but short publication of an indigenous Alaskan's perspective during WWII. I wish it was organized better, but seeing as how this is more of a self publication than a research project I forgive it.

[Mike Sigler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story worth learning about. However mostly a transcript of oral histories. I would have liked more integration of these stories and some more context, written as a narrative.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot of history that I should have learned in school.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the 13 years in which I attended Alaskan schools, I didn't know that the Aleutian Islands Attu and Kiska were occupied during WW2 until I was in college. This book tells part of that sad history.

Attu is the westernmost island in the Aleutian chain. The Japanese invaded on June 7, 1942. The few dozen villagers were shipped to Japan; only 25 survived the war due to malnutrition and disease.

They couldn't return to Attu after the war because the village was destroyed in the battle where the U.S. military retook the island (550 U.S. deaths, 2,350 Japanese deaths). The dialect specific to Attu (Unangan Tunuu) died out, as did its specific basket-weaving tradition (Unangan basketry), as there were not enough people left to carry it on.

[June Creedon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre WWII

My maternal grandfather was assigned to Attu during WWII. He was miserable there. He said the Japs could have it. I am excited to find these books about Attu so I have a better understanding of what his life was like during WWII.