ALEUT ELARY GROMOFF DIED-1ST NATIVE ALASKAN WEST POINT GRADUATE
Elary was born on St. Paul Island, Alaska, on June 7, 1949. He was his class valedictorian at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. The first Aleut Alaskan Native to graduate from United States Military Academy at West Point, Elary served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for over 20 years retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After proudly serving his country, Elary returned to Alaska, with his family. He followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a passion for serving the Aleut people of Alaska. Elary spent his career working for various Native Corporations. At the time of his passing, he was Chairman on the Tanadgusix Corporation Board of Directors and serving on The Aleut Corporation Board of Directors.
Source: “Elary Gromoff (1949-2017),” Anchorage Daily News, 8/19/2017. Retrieved 7/8/2019, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=elary-gromoff&pid=186322484&fhid=16963
Photo: U.S. Army, circa 1971. Public Domain. Photograph taken by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.