Anchorage, Alaska - Territorial Guard Statue

Alaska wasn't a state in World War II, but its citizens still played a role in the battle. You might not know that Japan actually took over a couple of the Aleutian Islands in 1942, and held them for a year.

Some Alaskans were involved in that battle, while others kept watch over the shores for enemy activity. More than 6,000 volunteers were involved.

The Alaska Territorial Guard, which was around from 1942 to 1947, is still remembered. The statue shown above is in downtown Anchorage, but there are copies in several cities around the state.

In addition, Bethel just opened a park to pay tribute to these brave men, who recently were officially recognized as veterans by the United States government. Read the story of the park here.

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