On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II. The US military feared that Alaska, due to it's close proximity to Japan, might be attacked and evacuated the family members of military personnel stationed in the Aleutians. Military installations on Dutch Harbor were attacked on June 3 and 4 of 1942. This attack was followed by Japanese troops invading and occupying the islands of Kiska and Attu. Aleut villagers living on Attu were captured and sent to Japan as Prisoners of War. They remained there until the end of the war.
After these attacks, the villages of Atka, Nikolski, Akutan, Kashega, Makushin, Unalaska, Biorka, St. Paul, and St. George were evacuated. A total of 881 Aleuts were evacuated and taken to several camps in Southeast Alaska, including Ward Lake and Funter Bay.