Alaska

US Navy names ship for late Alaska Native veteran

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2023

US Navy names ship for late Alaska Native veteran

Engineman Seaman Solomon Atkinson smiles for a picture, in an unknown location around 1952. Atkinson would go on to become one of the first U.S. Navy SEALs, complete 22 years of active naval service and retire in 1973 as Chief Warrant Officer 4. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is naming a ship after decorated Alaska Native veteran Solomon Atkinson of Metlakatla.

Atkinson, who died in 2019, was one of the first Navy SEALs. He was deployed to Korea and completed three tours in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Among his many acts of service, Atkinson also trained astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in underwater weightless simulations.

Solomon Atkinson is tossed into the pool by the astronauts of Gemini and Apollo missions after proctoring their training in diving and operating under simulated weightlessness. (Photo courtesy of Atkinson Family)

The Navy announced plans Monday to name a future Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship — which are traditionally named for prominent Indigenous people and tribes — after Atkinson.

“Atkinson’s achievements as a SEAL have left behind an enduring legacy, not just in the Special Warfare Community, but with our nation’s astronauts as well,” Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said in a statement. “I am pleased to ensure that his name will extend globally to all who views this great ship.”

Atkinson was born in Metlakatla in 1930 and raised in Alaska’s only federally recognized Indian reservation. Before enlisting in the Navy in 1952, he worked as a commercial fisherman. After his retirement from the Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1973, Atkinson founded the first veterans organization on Annette Island and served as mayor of Metlakatla, among other roles in the community.

The Navy named Atkinson’s widow, Joann Atkinson, and daughters Michele Gunyah and Maria Hayward as sponsors of the vessel. In that role, they will maintain a relationship with the ship and crew.

Joann Atkinson said the news that the Navy planned to name a ship after her late husband was “completely overwhelming.”

“I still haven’t come down off the clouds,” she said.

“I just wish he was here to receive, but I know he’s looking down on us right now,” she said of her husband. “And he’s probably just smiling. He had the most beautiful smile.”

Caitlin Steinberg is an archivist chronicling Atkinson’s life for a book and the executive director of Operation Green Faces, a nonprofit that preserves SEALs’ oral histories from the Vietnam War.

Steinberg called the task of preserving Atkinson’s story “intimidating” because it spans so many historical events. In an interview, she outlined Atkinson’s experiences preparing for the Cuban missile crisis, training astronauts, serving in the Vietnam War and being in Washington, D.C., during 9/11.

“His life is filled with such extraordinary circumstances that can only be described as either fate or incredible coincidence,” she said.

Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan recognized Atkinson as “Alaskan of the Week” in a 2017 U.S. Senate floor speech. Sullivan knew Atkinson and called him “a legendary Alaskan and an American hero” in a statement.

“You would never hear Sol brag about his accomplishments and illustrious career because Sol was — as most of the greats are — a truly humble man,” Sullivan said.

Solomon Atkinson smiles at age 21 when he first joins the U.S. Navy. (Photo courtesy of Atkinson Family)

Hayward, Atkinson’s daughter, thanked the Navy for honoring Atkinson. She said in a statement that her father embodied the Tsimshian tradition of “akadi lip a’algyaga sm’ooygit,” which loosely translates to “a chief never speaks for himself.”

“Through all of his time as a U.S. Navy UDT and SEAL, as well as a leader of veterans and Native Alaskans, Sol lived this ethos,” she said. “And, here today, in the shadow of Sol’s death, he holds to it still.”

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Reporter Riley Rogerson is a full-time reporter for the ADN based in Washington, D.C. Her position is supported by Report for America, which is working to fill gaps in reporting across America and to place a new generation of journalists in community news organizations around the country. Report for America, funded by both private and public donors, covers up to 50% of a reporter’s salary. It’s up to Anchorage Daily News to find the other half, through local community donors, benefactors, grants or other fundraising activities.

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Alaska

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

Published

7 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.

Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.

Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.

“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certiﬁed, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.

The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.

“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”

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Alaska

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

Published

15 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Norma Aldefer didn’t expect to turn 100. Now, one day after her 101st birthday, she’s even more surprised.

Inside her pristine apartment, Aldefer’s table is full of cards wishing her a happy birthday. She points out a favorite, which reads “You’re how old?”

Celebratory messages from loved ones, along with congratulations from state officials Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy. Aldefer said last year’s centennial birthday even brought in regards from President Joe Biden.

Aldefer moved to Alaska to marry her husband, who was originally from her hometown. The photograph she has at her side is of her as a younger woman posing with her mother in 1948.

Norma and her parents pose “all dressed up” for family photos.(Olivia Nordyke)

“We took pictures of ourselves and and I’m all dressed up in high heels and a hat and a purse. And my little bag that I was carrying.” Aldefer said she was scared leaving the small farm she grew up on, but by working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, she expanded her horizons.

Multiple times Aldefer stated she’s remained curious all her years. She said it’s the reason she’s been able to maintain herself rather than losing her faculties, and believes it’s the way to feel fulfilled.

“Sometimes people get into things they don’t enjoy, but they think, ‘Oh, I have to make a living.’ Don’t do that. If you’re not comfortable, go do something else,” Aldefer said.

“May not make a good living for a while, but you might enjoy life.”

Aldefer says she still enjoys life, and continues to enjoy a nightly martini alongside cheese and crackers before she begins to cook dinner.

Over the course of the interview, she marveled at her gratitude for her world – calling herself blessed.

“I know I’m not going to be here much probably much longer, but I’ve had such a good life, you know. I’m not afraid of it.”

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