Alaska

• Russian America’s Military Beginnings: Before the U.S. purchase in 1867, Russian America (Alaska) was protected by small Russian military detachments and Cossacks guarding fur trading posts. • The Alaska Purchase’s Military Motivation: The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 partly for strategic reasons, to prevent British expansion from Canada and establish a military presence in the North Pacific. • Fort Kenai – The First U.S. Garrison: After acquiring Alaska, the U.S. Army established Fort Kenai (1867-1870) to maintain law and order and assert sovereignty. • World War II Aleutian Campaign: Alaska was the site of the only WWII land battles on U.S. soil, when Japanese forces occupied Attu and Kiska islands in the Aleutians. U.S. and Canadian troops retook them in 1943. • Alcan Highway – Engineering Marvel: The Alaska-Canada (Alcan) Highway was constructed in 1942 by over 10,000 U.S. Army engineers in just eight months, connecting Alaska to the continental U.S. for strategic military logistics. • Cold War Outpost: During the Cold War, Alaska was a frontline state due to its proximity to the Soviet Union. Early warning radar stations and Nike missile sites dotted the landscape. • Elmendorf Air Force Base: Established in 1940 near Anchorage, Elmendorf became a key air defense hub, housing fighter squadrons, interceptors, and early warning systems throughout the Cold War and beyond. • Fort Greely’s Missile Defense: Fort Greely is now home to the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, with interceptors designed to protect the U.S. from long-range ballistic missile attacks. • Alaska National Guard Eskimo Scouts: Founded in 1942, the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG), known as “Eskimo Scouts,” patrolled thousands of miles of coastline, watching for enemy incursions and reporting weather. • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson: Created in 2010 by merging Army and Air Force installations, JBER is now one of the most strategically important military bases in the Arctic, hosting paratroopers, F-22 Raptors, and missile defense units.