In
1946, I was stationed in the Aleutian Islands as a chaplain for the United
States Air Force. Our particular island, Shemya, was shaped like an oyster and
was just large enough to have one important airstrip.
One
night a tremendous earthquake broke open the deep water of the Bay of Alaska
and sent tons of surge water (a tsunami) toward our island. The high flood
water, higher than our island, was to hit us at 3 a.m.
We
had 3,600 men on the island, but only one surface craft for 200. The idea of
evacuation was abandoned.
Hundreds
of men and officers gathered in the chapel on the high side of the island. Our
highest elevation was about eighteen feet and we were warned to expect about
forty feet. Every light was on in the
chapel. We had both large and small prayer services and the men periodically
sang songs of all faiths and wrote letters. Many men sat alone thinking of their
families and what the impending death by drowning would be like.
At
about 4 a.m. the wave came. There was a strong gush of wind and high water, but
nothing like the predicted 40 feet. The island of Adak, lying 400 miles to the
east broke the wave in two, with one half going into the Bearing Sea and the
other toward Hawaii.
We
were spared. Lots of water (ranging from15 to 18 feet) and a lot of mopping up,
but there were no casualties. Not a single life was lost.
The
water came as far as the Chapel steps. Our faith had been lifted by total trust
and dependence on God, and he came to our rescue.
Lionel
W. Nelson, USAF retired
Shemya,
Alaska
Copyright©2003,
Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Reprinted with express permission of the
Sarasota-Herald Tribune.
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