In May of 1943 my grandfather, James William Halvangis (1920-1973), made his way to Greenland as a member of the Army Air Forces during World War II. He would remain there until October of 1944.
In the photograph collection of his time in Greenland there were some beautiful shots of what I assume are Greenland’s Indigenous People, the Greenlandic Inuit.
This was one of my favorite of the bunch. It depicts several teenage girls with some younger children.
The Greenlandic Inuit numbered about 20,000 in the 1940s. I am looking forward to learning more about them and their relation to American military forces during the WWII. I would also love to know what my grandfather’s experience there was like.
Here are several other photographs in my grandfather’s collection.
And here are a couple of photos, one inside and one outside, of the barracks that my grandfather most likely stayed in.
A few photos of my grandfather himself out and about Greenland.
James William Halvangis (1920-1973)
James William Halvangis (1920-1973)
Finally, one of my all time favorite photographs of my grandfather, colorized and staring through an ice formation in the glacier.
James William Halvangis (1920-1973)
There’s a lot more story to learn and tell here. For now I will let the pictures do the talking.
Did you have relatives who were stationed in Greenland during WWII? I would love to hear your stories.!
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