ALCAN Highway

Thank you, glennslair for piquing my interest, and at the same time piquing my ignorance of the subject.

You see, as being an eastern Canadian, I was always under the wrongfull assumption that the Alcan Highway was a roadway up through the central part of British Columbia, to provide transportation to the Alumininum Company of Canada (Alcan)'s mining and production/smelting complex, at Kitimat, BC, and was financed and built in part by Alcan (Kitimat was a company town), back in the day. I also "ASSumed" that the highway extended up from Kitimat north to Alaska. - Shows how wrong a person's belief can be, when one assumes something (and we all know the old phrase about just that!).

After reading your post, I Goooooooogled and read a Wiki spread on the topic - very interesting - I'm sure to read up on it more in the next while.

Thank you for the eye/brain opening and good luck with sharing your info with others - Loupy.

You are very welcome. I had no idea what it was until my Dad told me about his working on it. But really did not think anything of it, until I was stationed someplace, that still had infrastructure that he helped build. I am the type of guy that likes it when somebody peeks my interest. Or give me food for thought. As for assuming, I know the phrase well. It gets me all the time, when least expected. I hope you enjoy your reading. If you google things like 18th engineers, or 2nd Battalion, 18th Engineers, The Aleutian Islands, 62nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), or the 35th or 97th regiments You might find it interesting. And if you would really like to read something of interest about the Aleutians, get a copy of the thousand mile war. By Brian Garfield, Bantam War Books. Enjoy. Glenn

Hi, Glenn

It always makes me think more about ALL the support services during the war(s), that didn't get all the blood and guts deal that medals and posthumous medals were awarded for. Without the backup, and sacrifice of everybody giving everything towards the total effort, we coudn't have done what we did! - Stop that H. madman running Europe and North Africa amuck.

My utmost appreciation to your Dad, family and you, as well as all the men, women and children who had to sacrifice, their lives in body, spirit, families and way of home life, so that we have it so peaceful today - Loupy.

Yes, it seems that the support services folks are the last to get credit for their sacrafice. Sort of like all the women and others that ran the factories and grew the food, so the troops could do their job. I would like to thank you for your compliment to my Dad and all those who served. I would extend that to the Civilians as well.

Glenn,

My grandfather worked for about 18 months on the ALCAN. I think he was a truck driver and equipment operator. My uncle has a couple of pictures of him on the job on the highway that I can probably borrow & scan to send to you if you are interested.

And I would like to get a copy of what you have if you can send them to me.

Thanks,

Rick

That would be great, thank you so very much.

I am interested. Have driven the Alcan 4 times in the last couple years. There is a guy alongside the Hwy in northern B.C. who has a lot of acreage and has an armada of trucks and equipment used to build the hwy. Funny, I totally missed his place on my return trip about 3 weeks ago back into Alaska. But I have seen his outfit before and I think even in April of this year. Anyway I am about as professional a photographer as you can get, have been running one-person exhibits since 1981, and so I'm interested in your collection of artifacts, documents, photos. Let me know what I can do on this...Malcolm Ray, just outside Anchorage Alaska

Thank you for your interest Malcolm, but for now, I am not sure what I am going to do to share with others. I would hate for the documents, and newspaper articles to get damaged, because of the handling. Or lost for that matter. As for driving the Highway, I understand its a long haul. My Dad drove it four or five times over his lifetime.

Try contacting local Musea and archive offices to see if they would like to preserve the documents and keep them for posterity. It is only 70 years ago but that will soon turn into 100 years and so on, long after memory fades.

Lists of names are always useful for family historians and genealogists.

Tony

Tony, not sure who to contact yet. I am not sure how my Dad got this document. It may be from his company, and then it may not. But I thank you for your advice and interest.

Just a note of interest:

The History Channel regularly shows an hour long documentary on the construction of the ALCAN. It particularly notes that there were two construction battalions working towards each other from opposite ends. One battalion was white and the other black. Seems the black battalion distinguished themselves in the natural competition that evolved and gave the US a step towards an integrated military.

Also, there were many engineering innovations regarding dealing with permafrost that transformed highway engineering. Quite interesting.

Hooker

Hooker, this is true, I have watched it a couple of times. It is my understanding that the 62nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) From Fort Devens, MS. Activated 21 Oct 1939 as 2nd Battalion, 18th Engineers. Feb 1942, were first assigned to task force, to construct the Highway, in conjunction with the 97th Engineer Battalion, (a black Battalion) to construct 1450 miles of 32 foot wide roadway. from April to November 1942. The 2nd of the 18th then went to the Aleutian Islands, to build a supply base at Adak, and in May of 43 moved to Shemya to build an Air Strip.A good many of the structures and the old runways were still there when I was stationed there.

It is also my understanding that the 95th Black Regiment, was more experienced than the 35th White Regiment. But they got the equipment, and the 95th got the hand tools. But that soon changed, as I understand.

Hi Glenn,

Maybe it was just a typo but Fort Devens is in Massachusetts not Mississippi. When I was stationed there it was mostly a training base for Military Intelligence MOS's.

Shawn

Dear Glennslair,

May I make a suggestion to you since you have offered this important piece of historical record. First off, IMHO your late father's document is irreplaceable, and it would be best to have the artifact given to an US Army military museum of some importance so that future generations can view it. Preferrably it should be an Army Engineering Museum of some prominence. In my opinion, giving it to a private collector would not be wise as the general public and future generations will not be able to view it nor will historians be able to research it properly.

Please donate to the US Army Engineering Museum (John B. Mchaffey Museum Complex) located at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, or

The US Army Museum located at the US Military Academy at West Point NY, some 60 miles south of my home.

http://www.wood.army.mil/MUSEUM

http://www.usma.edu/Museum

A third good choice would be the US Army's Museum at FT. Belvoir VA.

I sure either museum curator would gladly receive such an important and historical document. Make sure that they credit your late father. I'm sure that they will have th best technical service to preserve an possibly restore them. God Bless you for wanting to part with it.

Please get back to us later after you decide where the documents are to be sent.

Support and bless our troops!

Signed,

CaptMoosie,

former Capt. USACE/USAR (B Co./464th Engineering Btn.)

Another option might be the US Army Transportation Museum at Ft Eustis, VA. Though the Engineering Museum would be the most logical.

Hooker

Capt Moosie, I thank you for the information. I would like to donate to somebody. Not sure who yet. I am not sure how my Dad got the documents, or if they are copies. But they should be preserved that is for sure. I am also sure that should go to a Museum, and I would hope be able to shed some light on those that helped build the ALCAN, Be them white or black.

Glenn MSGT, USAF Retired.

Dear MSGT Glenn,

You are very welcome, and I am glad to have been of sort of assistance. I have another suggestion for you to consider:

You may want to make multiple photocopies (you may even qualify for a Federal or State Grant for significantly historical document preservation!) and send them to various museums that are acceptable to you, like:

1). the 95th Regiment as mentioned in another post. I'm not sure that they have the expertise to restore and maintain the original documents.

2). Ft. Belvoir Museum. I'm not sure in they have the expertise to restore the originals, but can maintain them.

3). Ft. Leonardwood Army Engineering Museum. I do know that they have experts in document restoration. This is a world class document restoration facility. If you should ever find yourself traveling through Missouri or a neighboring state, it will be your worthwhile to visit the museum....truly a fascinating experience and way too much material to view in a single day (much like the West Point Museum.). Probably this museum is the best choice after the Library of Congress restoration facility, which is also world class. If it was my decision, I'd donate the ORIGINAL documents to this facility, as it is the most appropriate and would be on display for all peoples to see..

4. West Point. Again, I do know that they have experts in document restoration and climate control like Ft. Leonardwood Museum to maintain the documents.

5. The Library of Congress does have THE best document restoration facility in the world as well has probably the best climate control system money can buy. Problem is that the documents will get filed and lost forever. If you're lucky the Library may have th4e documents on exhibition due to the 95th Engineers involvement with ALCAN.

I myself would love to look at the documents, from an engineering perspective as well a being a lifelong student of history, especially military history! I too saw the History Channel documentary about the construction of the ALCAN...truly outstanding and very fascinating.

Like you, I too have seen the ALCAN in person. While in the Army I served at Ft. Lewis in Washington State with the Rangers, and later at Ft. Richardson in AK (froze my butt off that Duty Station for 2 years! LOL). We were tasked with protecting the ALCAN and the oil pipeline in case the Soviets had ever decided to invade Alaska.

Can I ask what is the extent of the documents? Are they hundreds or thousands of pages with maps or a diary of sorts? I'd send you money to cover the cost of photocopying each page and mailing them to me!!!!! Please consider. TIA!!!!

If you still cannot decide the future of the documents, then it would be wise to talk to your elected Congressman's office and talk to one of his/her staff. They may be able to facilitate finding the appropriate home for the documents.

===CaptMoosie

Is it possible that you can contact me at glenn@glennsconservativeprecinct.com

I would like to discuss this further. I am not sure if this is a personal journal or a weeks to week daily report, or what It is typed and numbered. front and back, but the strange thing is like page 1 is numbered at the bottom, and then flipped up and the number 2 is at the bottom of the back of the page. I never saw the way it is typed.

I have taken the retaining clip out of the pages and placed then in document protectors.

Well it seems that the interest went dead in the water. I have sent an email to Ft Leonard-wood. but no reply . It seems that they are upgrading their web site. So I don't know if they are interested of not. I really would like to find out if an Army engineering Museum is interested. Or somebody else related to them, or the ALCAN.

Dear glennslair,

Yes, after reading your posting I tried to log onto the Ft. Leonardwood Engineering museum website as well, but no go. I have no clue how long that website at the Ft. Leonardwood Engineering Museum will be down for repair, etc. It could be for months for all I know. A real bummer, especially if they haven't replied to your email.

May I suggest that you call them directly and ask for the Curator, or the Assistant Curator. Once you have their ear, explain why your calling, what you have may be of some significance in regards to US Army Engineering particularly in regards to the 95th Engineering Regiment (a Black construction unit that built the ALCAN). I'd mention how you received these documents (through your dad) and they may be the Regiments' day-to-day progress reports etc.

The museum phone # is: (573) 596-0780.

email is: leon.usaesmuseum@conus.army.mil.

If all else fails contact the office of your US Senator representing your state and Congressional District. Usually they have the political horsepower and contacts to see that someone contacts you. Mention that you want to donate the documents, and that they may be of some great historical significance. Now day, especially after the election of President Obama, there has been a huge of interest in anything (especially documents) dealing with how Blacks and other minorities have contributed and help build this nation, past and present. I do know there's a huge interest with regards to the contribution of Black troops in WWII.....just look at the movie St. Anna's Miracle alone and the following it has across all generations and race. I know of quite a few WWII Vets and Vets of other conflicts in my own VFW Hall that have gone to see it, rented the movie DVD, or seen it on cable TV. Many still talk about it every time we have our monthly meetings or just show up for a few beers at the Hall's taproom.

If calling Ft. Leonardwood and your Senator doesn't work, then I'd try calling the West Point Museum and see if they'll discuss receipt of the documents. Again, ask for the Curator or Assistant Curator of the USMA Museum:

phone: 845-938-3590
fax: 845-938-7478
e-mail: museum@usma.edu
web: www.usma.edu/Museum/

I could try and make a call on your behalf and set the stage for your contacting the people at the museum....last time I looked, I did have a couple some old Army buddies teaching Cadet courses at the Point, who may be instrumental in helping you donate the documents to the museum. I can also try to contact the museum directly, but I'll need to have your name, address, telephone number and email addie so that they feel/know it's a legit contact source and also a means to contact you (email me your contact info/stats via my CR4 Forum Mailbox please). Let's see what I can dig up for you in the next week, okay?

signed,

CaptMoosie, LPE

Thanks Capt Moosie. I would be glad to send you my information. I just need to know how to get to your CR$ Forum Mailbox.

I would try calling, and even going to Senator McCain, But if you are willing to try and help, that is great. I have gotten some responses from a 95th related Museum, they seem to be interested. But the Documents are for the 18th.

I am friends of the Louis Tarantino family. Louis also was in the Army and worked on the original building of the ALCAN. Here is the official website,I am sure they would want to archive your historical and very important documents and pictures.

http://www.alcan-highway.com/

Thank you for the link, I will read further, and I am sure I will enjoy the read. I am sure the Louis Tarantino's Family official website will be very informative. I am also sure they would treat the documents and pictures well. But right now I am probably going to go with the Army museum.

Glenn

I am also very interested in this subject. The very first thing I would do is to scan the documents and get them on CD as a more permanent record, and make multiple copies of the CD to be kept in various "safe" places. You don't want to lose all if the house burns down. Then I would approach the army (or whomever) with the originals.

While I did not have relatives involved in the AlCan highway, my Dad was a radio operator on a B-29, which got me into 50 years of studying World War II... all services and all theaters.

Bill

Thanks for your concern, I am in the process of saving these documents, and the CD is a good idea. I do have them saved to my computer, so far. And yes I will be contacting somebody about donating the originals.