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Charles House Interview

Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area

On June 7, 1942 the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Island of Kiska. The island’s sole inhabitants were the crew of the U.S. Aerological Detail who fled to the hills - but most were captured after a few days. Senior Petty Officer William C. House managed to remain at large for 50 days eating only plants and earthworms until, weighing a mere 80 pounds, he was forced to choose between capture and starvation and surrendered to the Japanese. Learn more about his incredible experiences in the interview to follow and in his written account of his experiences on Kiska and as a prisoner of war.

WWII-era photo of Charles House and crew — Kiska Aerological Unit, Dec. 1941 – May, 1942

“Explosion” (dog, in front)

Frt row – McCandless, J.C. (Cook 3c); Christensen, R. (RdM 2/c); Winfrey, W.M. (AG 2/c); Palmer, G.T. (S 1/c); Gaffey, W.T. (S 1/c)

Back row – Turner, J.L. (AG 2/c); Coffield, R.L. (PharM); House, W.C. (AG 1/c); Nulla (Lt?); Eckles, L.L. (GunM); Yagnoneli, L (PhotoM); Courntenay, M.L. (RdM 3/c) Nulla and Yagnoneli were returned to Dutch Harbor via ship. They were not captured.

Photo courtesy National Archives

Download a full transcript of Charles House's interview.

Interview - Charles House
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Charles House was Navy weatherman on Kiska when the Japanese invaded. He eluded capture for 50 days but was finally taken prisoner to Japan.

Credit / Author:

Courtesy Naval War College

Date created:

06/01/1982
Audio Transcript

Commander Charles House Transcript Summary (full transcript available above)
0:00:00.1 Introduction of Commander House
0:00:59.0 Overview of the locations Commander House will speak about
0:02:09.6 Brief summary Commander House’s life
0:03:01.9 Arriving in Kiska in May 1942 to monitor the weather
0:04:31.2 The Casco brought General Buckner to Kiska
0:05:41.9 Lieutenant Commander Russell and PBYs patrolling Kiska
0:07:34.6 Sighting of a Japanese plane flying over Kiska on May 24
0:09:30.0 Preparing for possible Japanese arrival on Kiska
0:11:01.9 Kiska was attacked on the 5th of June
0:14:26.4 Searching for hidden food after being attacked
0:15:15.9 Reynard Cove and the stationed torpedo boat
0:16:46.7 Hiding and surviving by eating tundra
0:19:09.2 Moving from his hiding place to a cove at Conquest Point
0:22:36.0 Planning to surrender after 49 days of hiding
0:23:55.0 Surrendering to the Japanese
0:26:21.3 Seeing the Japanese camp for the first time
0:27:37.3 Being cared for by the Japanese soldiers
0:28:46.0 Learning the status of his fellow servicemen
0:31:12.1 A Japanese servant hid wine and liquor in the powerhouse building
0:32:31.3 Commander House was put to work filling sandbags with the Japanese soldiers
0:32:46.8 Surviving the September 13th air raid
0:35:53.9 Going to Japan via coal ship on September 19th
0:38:48.8 The Aleuts were brought ashore at Hakodate
0:40:15.9 Blindfolded at Yokosuka and taken to Ofuna
0:43:18.0 Japanese interrogation of Commander House
0:45:08.0 The Beating the prisoners at the internment camp
0:49:43.9 Work camp in Yokohama
0:50:49.0 Working at the shipyard in Yokohama
0:52:06.9 Contracting diphtheria while interned in Japan
0:54:55.0 Returning to camp to work after being hospitalized for diphtheria
0:56:41.6 Shipped to Shinagawa
0:57:40.0 Returning to the Yokohama shipyard
0:58:57.3 Stealing items and bartering with the Japanese
1:01:29.6 Bombing of Yokohama in February
1:03:00.9 Moving to Shinagawa to work at a steel mill and experiencing a raid on April 25, 1945
1:06:18.5 Riding a train to Kamaishi
1:07:41.6 Working at the steel mill in Kamaishi
1:09:37.9 Attacks in Kamaishi
1:12:09.9 The aftermath of the attacks around camp and additional attacks
1:15:54.9 Hiding as the attacks continued
1:19:10.4 Commander House was sent on a train out of Kamaishi after Japan surrendered
1:21:10.0 Placing POW signs on roofs of buildings so supplies could be delivered
1:24:05.3 Moving back to the old camp in Kamaishi
1:27:29.9 Commander House headed home
1:29:30.5 Questions from the audience for Commander House
1:29:58.5 High mortality rate in the internment camps
1:32:11.0 Survival in a prisoner camp
1:34:20.9 Learning to breath to warm the bed in the cold
1:35:24.4 Negotiating with the Japanese over working
1:38:36.3 Convincing the Japanese to let the prisoners bath in their pool
1:40:49.5 Interrogating the prisoners
1:41:59.4 B-17s bombing the officer's quarters and mess hall in Kiska
1:43:32.9 His family was unaware of his status for three years
1:44:25.0 Stealing food from the shipyard
1:45:57.6 The Japanese did not use them for propaganda
1:48:21.0 Enlisted men and officers had different work details
1:49:04.1 Commander House and a friend broke into a warehouse and took food, medicine, and clothing
1:51:05.7 Reaction from the Japanese regarding the A bombs
1:53:21.0 The Commander's outlook on life
1:56:34.5 Closing remarks and thanks
End of interview at 1:57:53.2

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Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area
Charles House and the Invasion of Kiska
Stationed on Kiska when the Japanese invaded in 1942, Charles House fled to the Alaskan tundra. After surviving 48 days on his own survival came down to one option - surrender.