Tony Potoski Album of photographs of the Aleutian Islands in World War II

Tony Potoski Album of photographs of the Aleutian Islands in World War II, circa 1942-1944

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Potoski, Tony, 1914-1995
Title: Tony Potoski Album of photographs of the Aleutian Islands in World War II
Dates: circa 1942-1944 (inclusive)
19421944
Quantity: 130 photographic prints in one album (1 box) ; sizes vary
4 Documents
Collection Number: PH1098
Summary: Photograph album by Tony Potoski of the Aleutian Islands in World War II
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Additional Reference Guides
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Anthony "Tony" Potoski, (1914-1995), was the son of John and Mary Potoski, both Polish immigrants to Washington State. Born in Doty, WA on August 19, 1914 Tony was a lifelong resident of Washington State and a 1933 graduate of Pe Ell High School. Mr. Potoski was a member of the 1933 Washington State Championship football and basketball teams while being awarded the Pe Ell High School Inspiration Cup in 1933. This trophy with his name engraved on its front still resides at Pe Ell High School.

Following graduation from high school Tony worked as a foreman in manufacturing before enlisting in the U. S. Army at Tacoma, WA on April 9, 1943. During his service in World War II he served with the 591st Anti-Aircraft Artillery AW Battalion taking part in the initial landings on the islands of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska. Tony served on the Alaskan front participating in the Aleutian Islands Campaign for twenty-two months helping to secure Attu, Kiska and the greater Aleutians from Japanese occupation throughout 1943-1944. After the war Tony was a member of the Pe Ell Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 5522 and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans in Seattle, WA.

Upon conclusion of the war and his service with the U. S. Army in 1946 Tony returned to Washington State working as a logger in the local timber industry. In 1954 Mr. Potoski married Ms. Vera Hill. Tony retired from logging in 1964.

While working as a logger for Northwest Logging Company he met a waitress from Brooklyn, WA named Ruth Frances Greer. Years later they reunited and were eventually married on July 30, 1967. They did not have any children. Ruth Frances Greer Potoski attended the University of Washington where she later worked in the library for over twenty-five years retiring in 1989. Ruth died on January 30, 1993.

Tony Potoski outlived his parents John and Mary, younger brother Joseph, and his wife Ruth. Mr. Potoski passed away at the V. A. hospital in Seattle, WA on June 29, 1995 and is interred at the Claquato Cemetery in Chehalis, WA near Pe Ell along with his parents, brother, and wife.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Battles of Attu and Kiska were the main conflicts of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II where American and Japanese forces fought for control of these remote, sparsely inhabited islands of the North Pacific from May 11 to May 30, 1943. In June 1942, Japan seized Attu and its neighbor Kiska establishing garrisons on these remote, U. S. owned islands. The reason for taking Attu and Kiska, known for their barren, mountainous terrain and harsh weather, may have been to divert U.S. forces during Japan's attack on Midway Island (June 4-7, 1942) in the central Pacific. It is also possible the Japanese believed holding the two islands would prevent the U.S. from invading Japan from the north by way of the Aleutian Islands. Either way, the Japanese occupation was a blow to American morale. In May 1943, U.S. troops finally retook Attu and in August reclaimed Kiska as well.

The Battle of Attu and Kiska featured several firsts of World War II. The Aleutian Islands Campaign witnessed the first American amphibious assault in the North Pacific as well as one of the first Japanese banzai attacks of the war. Banzai attacks became a tactic of last resort when Japanese forces found themselves in dire situations and at the mercy of Allied forces. With their backs against the wall rather than be taken prisoner, Japanese soldiers utilized banzai attacks to instill fear in Allied forces while fighting to the death in honor of their emperor and homeland.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs mostly of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska during World War II when Tony Potoski served in the Alaska Campaign. The photographs show the landscape, housing, left over Japanese equipment, buildings and American troops. An awards ceremony and USO performers are also depicted as well as Tony Potoski and his Army buddies. Some photographs show Tony Potoski serving in a military ceremony in Long Beach, CA as well as Tony with Army buddies in Los Angeles, CA. Tony Potoski is the photographer of the majority of the photographs except for those in which he appears.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Garrison Auctioneers, February 19, 2012.

Processing Note

Processed by Renato Rodriguez, 2012; processing completed by Stefanie Terasaki, 2013.

Publications and newspaper clippings describing the history of the battle of Attu ("The Battle of the Aleutians: A Graphic History 1942-1943" and "Short History-Battle of Attu Prepared at Post Headquarters, Camp Earle November, 1944") were relocated to the Pacific Northwest collection in Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

AlbumReturn to Top

Photographs of Tony Potoski's World War II experiences while serving in the U. S. Army at Attu and Kiska in Alaska.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	item
1	1-1a	Snow covered army barrack in Alaska possibly in Attu	circa 1943
1	1-1b	View of army barracks in Alaska possibly in Attu	circa 1943
1	1-1c	Landscape in Alaska, possibly in Attu	circa 1943
1	1-1d	Landscape of Alaskan river valley, possibly Attu, including three men, Rathke, Tony Potoski, and Lenza Written on verso: Taken in 1943. Rathke from Kansas (kneeling), myself (center), Lenza from Chicago.	circa 1943
1	1-2a	Alaskan landscape, possibly Attu Written on verso: Path leading from our hut.	circa 1943
1	1-2b-e	Snow covered landscape in Alaska, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-3a-d	Snow covered landscape including a small inlet, unpaved road in the foreground	circa 1943
1	1-4a	Snowed in barrack number 746, possibly Attu Written on verso: One of our huts. Nice view isn't it? Boy you can have it.	circa 1943
1	1-4b	Snowed in army barrack with gas cans in the foreground, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-4c-e	Waterfall near the army barracks, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-5a	Large vertical rock formation, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-5b	Two army tractors along an unpaved snow covered road, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-5c	Supply trucks heading downhill on snow covered road, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-5d	Snow covered army barracks with Alaskan peaks in background, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-6a-b	Wreckage of a Japanese fighter plane Written on verso: Jap Zero.	circa 1943
1	1-6c	Captured Japanese artillery battery Written on verso: Jap antiaircraft gun. 77mm dual purpose.	circa 1943
1	1-6d	Captured Japanese snow tractor Written on verso: Jap tractor, notice the "rising sun" on the windshield. Maybe I should say "setting sun".	circa 1943
1	1-6e	Two American servicemen standing near a captured Japanese artillery battery Written on verso: Jap antiaircraft gun. Harold Schules from Michigan and in the background is Stanley Cartwright from Col.	circa 1943
1	1-7a	Three American servicemen with a captured Japanese army truck, possibly Attu Written on verso: Jap truck. Schules, Klemp, Cartwright.	circa 1943
1	1-7b	Three American servicemen kneeling with a captured Japanese cannon, possibly Attu Written on verso: Jap field gun. Left to right Harold Schules, Geo. Hughes, Stan Cartwright.	circa 1943
1	1-7c	Japanese movie actress, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-7d	Captured Japanese supply truck, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-7e	American serviceman leaving a Japanese latrine, possibly Attu Written on verso: One of our officers leaving Jap latrines.	circa 1943
1	1-8a	Man standing in snow in front of army barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: A dear friend of mine Argentina from Vicennes, Indiana. He's working in Officers Mess. Building is just part of our mess hall. We chummed around together when in Long Beach and Fort Ord.	circa 1943
1	1-8b	Man sitting with a woman sitting on his lap, possibly Attu Written on verso: One of the U. S. O. girls and one of our men. Bingamon from Peoria, Ill. I got in the way. That was over 6 months ago.	circa 1943
1	1-8c	Tony Potoski standing atop a hill with mountain in background, possibly Attu Written on verso: Myself with my parka on.	circa 1943
1	1-8d	Four men in winter gear digging a trench for communication lines, possibly Attu Written on verso: Our communication gang out on a line.	circa 1943
1	1-9a	Tony Potoski standing atop a rock formation, possibly Attu Written on verso: Yours truly sizing the situation over.	circa 1943
1	1-9b	Interior of an army barrack, possibly Attu Written on verso: Inside view of one of the huts we live in.	circa 1943
1	1-9c	Tony Potoski in full combat gear, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-9d	Four servicemen sitting on grass posing for a photo, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Myself, Molinas from St. Francis, Wis. Sharp from Wenachee, WA. Worth from New Jersey - holding a wooden doll he carved out of Russian lumber.	circa 1943
1	1-9e	Two men with arms around each others shoulders, possibly Attu Written on verso: Two lovebirds - [illeg.] Myself and Laurenzi.	circa 1943
1	1-10a	Flagpole with American flag overlooking Little Falls Cemetery, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-10b	Tony Potoski standing at the entrance of the Little Falls Cemetery, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-10c	View of the flag pole and American flag at the Little Falls Cemetery, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-10d	Tony Potoski standing in front of the Little Falls Cemetery, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-10e	Four servicemen, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Wilks, Dietz, Sharp, and myself.	circa 1943
1	1-11a	Four enlisted men in uniform, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Mlinas, Dietz, Sharp, and yours truly.	circa 1943
1	1-11b	Tony Potoski sitting on rocks with a bottle of beer, possibly Attu Written on verso: We went to Coney Island that day. Ha.	circa 1943
1	1-11c	Tony Potoski standing near rocks, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-11d	Three enlisted men, possibly Attu Written on verso: Jacobs from Tacoma, myself, and Murphy from Kansas.	circa 1943
1	1-11e	Four servicemen standing in snow posing for a photograph Written on verso: Left to right. Gengler-Iowa, Tuck-Kentucky, Yours truly, Murphy-Kansas Tokens 1944.	circa 1943
1	1-11f	Four servicemen standing in the snow, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. White-Tennessee, Murphy-Kansas, Me again, Montgomery-Kentucky.	circa 1943
1	1-12a	Tony Potoski sitting on an army jeep with a friend, possibly Attu Written on verso: Murphy and myself.	circa 1943
1	1-12b	Tony Potoski sitting near a small river, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-12c	Tony Potoski standing with a water drum, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-12d	Tony Potoski and two friends horsing around in the snow, possibly Attu Written on verso: Going Aleutianite. Left to right. Gengler, Myself, and Murphy.	circa 1943
1	1-12e	Tony Potoski and friend standing in snow each holding a bottle of beer, possibly Attu Written on verso: Myself and Gengler. Good old Schlitz.	circa 1943
1	1-12f	Tony Potoski standing on barren ground, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-13a	Tony Potoski and friend standing outside their barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Yours truly and Gengler from Ramses, Iowa. Taken just out from our hut.	circa 1943
1	1-13b	Tony Potoski sawing lumber, possibly Attu - Written on verso: This is me sawing lumber. I didn’t even know the picture was taken. They caught me by surprise.	circa 1943
1	1-13c	Tony Potoski standing outside of his barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Yours truly taken March 1944.	circa 1943
1	1-13d	Tony Potoski standing outside of his barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Me in front of my hut.	circa 1943
1	1-13e	Tony Potoski and friends standing with a supply trailer, possibly Attu Written on verso: L. to right on top. Myself & Peter, Sager, ‘Andy’, Klemp.	circa 1943
1	1-13f	Tony Potoski and friends standing with a supply trailer, possibly Attu Written on verso: L-R. Peter from Iowa, myself, Ledford from California, Sager from Tennessee, Klemp from Chicago.	circa 1943
1	1-14a	Man lounging on rocks with a bottle of beer, possibly Attu Written on verso: Dietz with his bottle of beer.	circa 1943
1	1-14b	U. S. Army supply truck attempting to cross a stream or small river, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-14c	Tony Potoski standing in the snow, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-14d	Tony Potoski standing on top of a small hill, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-14e	Tony Potoski sitting at a small table inside his barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Taken inside our hut – working on a problem.	circa 1943
1	1-14f	Tony Potoski standing in the snow, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-15a	Six men wearing snow gear, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Lenzer from Chicago, myself, Gengler-Iowa, Murphy-Kansas, Wilks-Ill, Jacob-Tacoma, Wa.	circa 1943
1	1-15b	Man in uniform standing at attention, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-15c	Six men standing in snow gear, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Lenzer from Chicago, myself, Gengler-Iowa, Murphy-Kansas, Wilks-Ill, Jacob-Tacoma, Wa.	circa 1943
1	1-15d	Man sitting on rocks, possibly Attu Written on verso: 'Nick' Mlinas of Wisconsin.	circa 1943
1	1-15e	Tony Potoski and three friends standing outside of their barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Token in July 1943, From left to right – myself, Sidney Wood from Oregon, Dwight Binggmon from Illinois, Howard Rutledge from Centralia, Wash.	circa 1943
1	1-15f	Small church, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-16a	Two men cleaning fish while one man sits in the background, possibly Attu Written on verso: I took this picture of Mlinas and Wilks cleaning fish. In the background is Dietz from Alabama state.	circa 1943
1	1-16b	Tony Potoski sitting with four friends Written on verso: Left to right. V.L. Smith – Cal., Dietz-Ala., Wilks-Ill., myself (Potoski)-Wa., Butson-Ill.	circa 1943
1	1-16c	Tony Potoski and friend standing atop a hill Written on verso: Myself and Hunt.	circa 1943
1	1-16d	Tony Potoski and friend standing in front of a waterfall, possibly Attu Written on verso: Wilks and myself by waterfalls. Taken June 1944.	1944
1	1-16e	Tony Potoski and friends standing in front of a waterfall, possibly Attu Written on verso: Hunt and myself by waterfalls.	1944
1	1-17a	Tony Potoski posing with two friends, possibly Attu Written on verso: Left to right. Myself, Milnas from Wis. and Laurenzi from New Jersey.	circa 1943
1	1-17b	Tony Potoski sewing a patch onto his army uniform, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-17c	Tony Potoski and two friends pose for a photograph, possibly Attu Written on verso: Poor picture. Myself and Wilks from Illinois, Mlinas (kneeling).	circa 1943
1	1-17d	Tony Potoski in uniform standing in front of some barracks, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-17e	Four servicemen sitting around a table playing cards, possibly Attu Written on verso: Taken inside our quarters playing pinochle, here Worth, myself, Sotka and Dietz. This was Sat. nite and beer and cigars were plentiful.	circa 1943
1	1-17f	Tony Potoski and a friend wearing baseball gloves, possibly Attu Written on verso: Wilks and I.	circa 1943
1	1-18a	Tony Potoski and four friends sitting on a bunk inside their barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Taken inside our hut. Sitting on my bunk is myself, 1st Sgt. Nelson from Chicago, Wilks. Sitting in front, Milnas from St. Francis, Wis. and James Montgomery from Kentucky.	circa 1943
1	1-18b	Tony Potoski and two friends sitting on a bunk, possibly Attu Written on verso: This picture was taken inside our hut. The light was poor and the picture is blurred. Wilks, Milinas, and myself.	circa 1943
1	1-18c	Tony Potoski in full dress uniform standing on the roof of a building Written on verso: All of these pictures were taken on Xmas day Dec. 25, 1942. Walt Butts from Las Vegas, Nevada and myself. It was taken on top of the building we sleep and work in. The address of the building is 733 South Flower Street. This the 37 Brigade headquarters.	1942
1	1-19a	Military funeral for Bennie Stasis, Los Angeles Cemetery, California Written on verso: In this picture we are waiting for the body to be brought out of the house. Just getting organized. The Sargeant in charge is pointing. He’s got his finger on me. He is getting information where he should stand. His name is Nelson. The other that you see his profile is our Captain and also our battery commander. His name is Lockett. The other conversation is Sarg. Paha who is in charge of the firing squad. The firing line is the 1st squad you see in the picture. In the white blouse by the escort squad is the preacher.	1942
1	1-19b	Military funeral for Bennie Stasis, Los Angeles Cemetery, California Written on verso: Funeral for Bennie Stasis held at a Catholic church and buried at Los Angeles Cemetery June 18, 1942. The escort is lined up alongside of the grave and present arms as the coffin is brought to final resting place. I am the second one from the left on the escort line. The other is the firing squad.	1942
1	1-19c	Firing line for the military salute for the funeral of Bennie Stasis, Los Angeles Cemetery, California Written on verso: The firing squad walks up and fire 3 rounds each – total of 18 shots. The escorts present arms.	1942
1	1-19d	All men in the funeral unit stand at attention while 'Taps' is bugled Written on verso: The services are over with now and taps are being blown by the bugler and everyone is at attention and presenting arms. This is the final step and according to the Chaplain and B.C. we are complimented on the fine and excellent manner in which we performed. This was the first time they or rather that the B.C. attended.	1942
1	1-20a	Man in uniform standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building	1942
1	1-20b	Tony Potoski standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building	1942
1	1-21a	Tony Potoski and friend, Stanley, on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Stanley and I in a relax position.	1942
1	1-21b	Tony Potoski and friend, Stanley, on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Taken Nov. 28, 1942. L.A. Stanley and I on top of the building we are stationed. The building behind is the Roosevelt. Main tower is about 5 blocks.	1942
1	1-22a	Tony Potoski and friend standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Walter Butts from the 65th of Las Vegas, Nevada. My sleeping partner in the 37th Brigade. Dietz is gun clerk while I am a searchlight clerk. I was on detach service Aug. 13, 1942.	1942
1	1-22b	Tony Potoski and two friends standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Botts, Simmons, the radio operator and myself.	1942
1	1-23a	Tony Potoski and friend standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Stanley and Botts.	1942
1	1-23b	Man standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building, the Barker Brothers store is in the background Written on verso: At right is Barker Brothers Store, it is the most expensive store in L. A.	1942
1	1-24a	Tony Potoski, dressed in civilian clothing, standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building	1942
1	1-24b	Man dressed in dressed in civilian clothing standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building	1942
1	1-25a	Tony Potoski, dressed in military uniform, standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building	1942
1	1-25b	Tony Potoski and a friend, both dressed in military uniform, standing on the rooftop of a downtown Los Angeles building Written on verso: Botts and myself again. The building in back is called is the Cadillac Building. In it is the Don Lee Broadcasting Studio where your radio program came from – There is a lot of tall buildings close by.	1942
1	1-26a	Tony Potoski and two friends posing for a picture in Long Beach, CA	1942
1	1-26b	Tony and two friends in Long Beach, CA Written on verso: All pictures taken at Long Beach [CA] at the park that is nearest the ocean. Aug 1, 1942 – Left to right: Don Leford – Sacramento, Cal., Americo Argentina – Vicennes, Ind., Myself.	1942
1	1-27a	Tony Potoski with two friends in Long Beach, CA Written on verso: Americo Argentina – Vicennes, Ind., Don Leford – looks like a det[ached]? Policeman from Sacramento Valley, Cal. – Myself.	1942
1	1-27b	Tony Potoski with two friends at Long Beach Park, California Written on verso: Background is the Recreational Building in Long Beach Park – Left to right: Americo Argentina – Vicennes, Ind. – Ralph Bustoin Staddle – Cadiz, Ohio – Myself.	1942
1	1-28a	Tony Potoski standing in front of his barracks, possibly Attu Written on verso: Me	circa 1943
1	1-28b	Men in Tony Potoski's unit receiving service medals, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-29a-b	Men in Tony Potoski's unit receiving service medals, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-30	Group photo of Tony Potoski's unit Written on verso: “Group picture – I’m not in it as the camera couldn’t take us all in.The men are identified on the front of the photo written by hand.	circa 1943
1	1-31	Men in Tony Potoski's unit in formation receiving service medals, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-32	Men in Tony Potoski's unit standing at attention, in formation	circa 1943
1	1-33	Female U. S. O. entertainer holding a mop Written on verso: One of the U.S.O. girls who was here. At one time she was with Phil Spitalmyer’s (sp?), all girls orchestra. She played the violin.	circa 1943
1	1-34	Hand-colored photo of Tony Potoski sitting on a rock holding a bottle of beer	circa 1943
1	1-35	Hand-colored photo of Tony Potoski standing in front of a rock formation, possibly Attu	circa 1943
1	1-36a-b	Tony Potoski dressed in military uniform posing with a friend outside of a house	circa 1943
1	1-36c	Tony Potoski with a friend drinking beer out of the trunk of a car	circa 1943

Related materialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	2	Portrait of Tony Potoski Naiman's Studio, Washington, D.C (photographer)	circa 1942-1944
1/1	3	Hockett and Tony Potoski standing on top of camp water tank Written on verso: Hockett (Jigger) and I perched on the top of a huge water tank that provides water for camp.	circa 1942-1944
1/2	4-7	Tony Potoski's personal military papers Military papers include: one "Enlisted Man's Temporary Pass"; one Certificate for Authorization to wear the Good Conduct Medal, 3 Overseas Bars, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with Bronze Star, and Sharpshooter Badge with appropriate bar; one Certificate of Proficiency to perform the duties of a Unit Gas Noncommissioned Officer; and one Special Order recommendation for a temporary promotion to be Corporal by order of Lieutenant Colonel Banister.	1944-1945

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