An impressive historical discovery recently brought a World War II relic to an Alaskan museum where visitors can see it for the first time in over 80 years. According to Alaskan News Source, the new addition to the museum dates back to the Battle of Attu and holds specific importance to the region.
The Prince William Sound Museum in Whittier, Alaska recently acquired a rare and historically significant artifact: a 1939 Japanese Nambu machine gun, used by Japanese forces during the WW II Battle of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. This battle, fought on North American soil, saw fierce combat, with over 500 American soldiers losing their lives.
Museum Director Ted Spencer described the addition of the Nambu machine gun to the museum’s collection as a lifelong dream come true, though the process of obtaining it was anything but straightforward.
The journey of this weapon began with Lt. Colonel William Lucas, who played a key role in recapturing Attu from the Japanese in 1943. After the battle, Lucas took the gun home to Virginia, where it remained hidden in a closet for nearly 80 years until his granddaughter discovered it. Recognizing its historical value, she reached out to the museum to offer the gun for display.
However, bringing the machine gun to Alaska wasn’t easy. Because it had never been registered with the federal government, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives initially wanted to destroy it. Thanks to the efforts of Elaina Spraker, a staff member from Senator Dan Sullivan’s office, the gun was recognized as a historic relic and was eventually transferred to the City of Whittier.
Senator Sullivan recently visited the Whittier Museum to view the machine gun, acknowledging its significance as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Battle of Attu. Spencer hopes that displaying it will help shed light on this often-overlooked chapter of American history and highlight Alaska’s crucial role in the Second World War.
Not only do we share interesting news stories like this about WWII history, but we are also working to give back to members of the greatest generation who gave so much. Check out what we are doing here.