March 28, 1964 Gulf of Alaska Tsunami - Kalsin Bay Narrative

Passage from Lander (1996):

"Many ranchers lost cattle - up to 70 to 80 head. Jake Blanc's house was moved one-half mile inland but left intact. The Art Vosgien family had been on an outing with the Currys when the erathquake hit. They decided to return to the Naval Station. On the way to Kalsin Bay there was a big rush of water over the road. The Vosgiens and Currys waited for the water to recede and believed that the tsunami had come and gone (Kodiak Daily Mirror, March 28, 1994).

The road was blocked with trees and debris. Richard Vosgien, 12 years old, and Maurice Curry began walking down the beach road toward a house 1 1/2 miles away while the others sought help nearby. Eugene Schultz and his wife, Rose Marie, attempted to get through the debris with their Jeep. At this time also, Airman Gordon Wallace, his wife Arlene, and son Jackie Buscher were coming from an outing at Chiniak. The Wallaces found the road flooded and had gotten out of the car when a big wave hit them, knocking Airman Wallace unconscious. When he regained consciousness he frantically searched for his family along the shore, even by riding a log in the icy water. He followed a fence to the Stratman house where he collapsed. He was saved but his wife's body was found in the car and his son's nearby. The Schultz' jeep was found in a deep water-filled hole and both were killed. Mr. Curry and Richard Vosgien were also killed (Kodiak Daily Mirror, March 28, 1994, P. 1,6,7)."

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