Remembering Alaska veterans who made their marks on the military

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, “Lest we forget."

It’s a day we as veterans honor and a day when we as Americans might take a moment to remember those that paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we so cherish.

Citizens from every corner of this great land served with valor and distinction, and all that sacrificed for their country deserve to be honored for their service. There will always be a few warriors who stand out among so many that are worthy of being honored this Veterans Day, including two individuals from Alaska and the third who made Alaska his home after serving.

Solomon “Sol” Atkinson of the Tsimshian clan was born in Metlakatla, where he presided as mayor, served on the Community Council, the local Board of Education and helped establish the Metlakatla Veterans Association. Prior to his longstanding service to his community, Sol served 22 years in the U.S. Navy. As a young seaman, Sol volunteered for the famed Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team, the precursor to the modern-day Navy SEALs. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy commissioned the first SEAL Team, and Sol was selected as one of its original members. He trained young “frogmen” as a Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUDS) Instructor and eventually moved on to becoming an instructor for NASA, training astronauts in underwater weightlessness simulations. Sol completed three tours of duty in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. I had the honor of standing in for Sol when he received the Veterans Advocacy Award for his faithful service to the veterans of Alaska in 2019. My friend and teammate died on July 21, 2019, and was buried in Metlakatla. His funeral was attended by a contingent of Navy SEALs, with each SEAL, including myself, “Tacking the Trident” to his casket -- our way of honoring the “Brotherhood."

“Jorgy” Jorgensen was a legendary Alaska Native bush pilot, but his life is much more than a great flying story. Jorgy was raised by his Inupiat Eskimo mother and his Norwegian gold-miner father in the tiny mining camp of Haycock, Alaska. Over time he made his home in Fairbanks. Jorgy served in Muktuk Marston’s Alaska Territorial Guard from January 1942 to May 1945 and was a sergeant by the age of 17. After Pearl Harbor, he became a valued employee of Sig Wien and learned to fly under Sig’s tutelage. Jorgy operated a dragline in the summers, excelled as a boxing champion and was instrumental in desegregating Nome’s movie theater. Jorgy’s flying career was equally varied, flying all over Alaska, carrying passengers and cargo. He delivered scientific equipment and supplies to the T-3 ice island, fresh fish to and from King Salmon, moved reindeer from Hagemeister Island and flew in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Canada. Jorgy’s flying career spanned from 1943 to 2001, logging more than 35,000 hours of flight time. Jorgy died on April 4, 2020. He was an honorable man and treasured Alaskan.

“Cajun” Bob Thoms, a native from Baton Rouge, made Alaska his home after returning from Vietnam. Cajun Bob served with Delta Company, 1st of the 5th Marines and led a critical assault during the Battle of Hue in Vietnam. His heroic actions in Vietnam represent the best of the Vietnam veteran generation and deserving of tribute. Cajun Bob was awarded the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry” during the assault on the Arch Tower on Feb. 15, 1968, during some of the most ferocious fighting of North Vietnam’s Tet Offensive. A portion of his Silver Star citation reads:

“Staff Sergeant Thoms led a squad forward and skillfully maneuvered his men to within thirty meters of the objective. When his attack was momentarily halted due to casualties and the increasing intensity of hostile fire, he moved to the point of heaviest contact and aggressively led an assault against the tower. Although wounded by hand grenade fragments, Staff Sergeant Thoms selflessly refused medical treatment and resolutely continued the attack despite continuous North Vietnamese fire. Inspired by his fearless leadership and aggressive fighting spirit, his men successfully routed the enemy and seized the tower. Wounded a second time by enemy mortar fragments, he steadfastly refused medical evacuation and remained with his platoon to lead it in an aggressive counterattack the following morning, completely routing the North Vietnamese."

Cajun Bob passed away on Oct. 1, 2019, in Wasilla. We owe Cajun Bob a “Welcome Home” on this Veterans Day; may he rest in peace.

It is our sacred duty to preserve the legacy of these brave Americans, and it should remain our charge to work for peace and freedom on behalf of their selfless devotion to America. The courageous legacy of our service members should inspire us to make their sacrifices meaningful and not forgotten. Lest we forget!

All of us have someone we can share a Veterans Day tribute for, so please share a moment in their memory on this day.

Rep. Laddie Shaw is a Vietnam veteran, retired member of SEAL Team One, Former State Director for Veterans Affairs and currently serves in the State House representing Anchorage.

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