Kodiak became a major staging area for North Pacific operations during
World War II. The population of the tiny village soared to more than
25,000. A submarine base and air station were constructed at Women's
Bay and an army outpost was established near the Buskin River. Bunkers
and gun emplacements were built at Chiniak, Long island and Fort Abercrombie.
Japanese forces occupied Kiska and Attu in the Aleutians, but were
turned back by American and Canadian forces.