EPISODE · Feb 5, 2026 · 2H 53M
Episode 11: Bill Thomas; A Veteran’s Journey Through Alaska, War, And Public Service
from Doug Has Questions · host Douglas
Send us Fan MailA life can hold multitudes, and Bill Thomas’ story proves it. Born and raised in Haines with deep Tlingit roots, Bill carries us from Main Street memories and Chilkat dancers to the hot ramp at Bien Hoa, where a young crew chief learned to keep planes—and people—alive. He talks about flying VIP missions in U-21s, the daily reality of fear, the rare medal signed by General Creighton Abrams, and the strange return home through welded bus doors and jeering crowds. You’ll hear the humor too: mess hall standoffs, a monkey fed on grasshoppers, and the long-running code of “never leave home without your crew chief.”We shift from war to work, tracing how Bill helped secure ANCSA recognition for Klukwan Inc., negotiated land selections, and built a vertically integrated logging operation on Long Island that kept profit with shareholders—roads, cutting, longshoring and all. Then come the policy fights: securing funding for DIPAC’s hatchery, pushing the Renewable Energy Fund that still powers rural hydro and wind, backing ferries that actually pencil out, and delivering harbors and highways that changed daily life. He’s candid about what’s broken in fisheries—escapement first, interception capped, trawler bycatch addressed, and 32-inch rules reconsidered if we care about the future run. On ferries, he argues for short hops supported by road links over a patchwork of costly, empty sailings.Woven through is a call to remember the people who built this place for real: Tlingit code talkers Jeff David and George Lewis—sworn to secrecy for decades—deserve monuments and lessons our kids can learn from. Bill’s voice is straight, warm, and unsparing. If you care about Alaska—its communities, fisheries, ferries, and the people who show up when it’s hard—you’ll find a dozen reasons to lean in and rethink what progress looks like.Enjoy the conversation? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a friend who loves true Alaska stories. Which moment stayed with you?
What this episode covers
Send us Fan Mail A life can hold multitudes, and Bill Thomas’ story proves it. Born and raised in Haines with deep Tlingit roots, Bill carries us from Main Street memories and Chilkat dancers to the hot ramp at Bien Hoa, where a young crew chief learned to keep planes—and people—alive. He talks about flying VIP missions in U-21s, the daily reality of fear, the rare medal signed by General Creighton Abrams, and the strange return home through welded bus doors and jeering crowds. You’ll hear th...
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Episode 11: Bill Thomas; A Veteran’s Journey Through Alaska, War, And Public Service
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